Jumpstart Reader Program

Each year, one in three children enters kindergarten without the skills to succeed. This early deficit has a lasting impact, affecting children’s long-term success. As a Jumpstart Reader, you can help.

Jumpstart Readers volunteer in San Francisco preschools and community centers to read to and engage children in fun and educational activities. Reading and conversation helps build children’s vocabulary, creativity, decision-making, and prepares them for school success.

 Volunteers receive abbreviated versions of Jumpstart trainings focused on dialogic reading and the Jumpstart philosophy for working with children.  Reader responsibilities include the following:

• Volunteer at center for 2-4 hours a week for at least 6 weeks
• Consult with center to arrange a regular volunteer schedule and keep track of and report volunteer hours to Jumpstart
• Implement the Jumpstart reading method with children
• Assist with classroom activities
• Foster intrinsic motivation in children through play
• Help create a literacy-rich environment at the center
• Meet Jumpstart and center’s volunteer qualifications

If you want to make a difference in a child’s life and are interested in being a Jumpstart Reader, please fill out the attached volunteer reader application and submit it to the address indicated on the form by Friday, June 20, 2008.

 

 

Family Literacy Nights

If you’re interested in volunteering regularly at our family literacy nights, we need volunteers to run the reading corner with children as their parents learn about the importance of literacy. We will coordinate a time for a training session on the dialogic reading method with those who express interest. 2 volunteers per event needed.

• Monday, May 12, 2008 3:30-5pm at Noriega Child Development Center (1775 44th Avenue, San Francisco)
• Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:30-5pm at 1st Place to Start (1252 Sunnydale Avenue, San Francisco)

Family Workshops

After a successful winter series of workshops in Bayview, we’re gearing up to start a spring series in Visitacion Valley. They’ll start April 14 and will occur every Monday afternoon until June 5, 2008 at Malcolm X Elementary School. As with the Family Literacy Nights, volunteers will run the reading corner where they will read to and engage children in fun, creative literacy activities. Once again, we will provide training for those who are interested. 5 volunteers per event needed.

Office Assistance

We could always use help at our office, located at 965 Mission St., Ste 300, San Francisco, CA 94103. Volunteers can help with mailing, classroom materials creations, and other administrative tasks. This is a great way to expose yourself to the nonprofit and/or early childhood education fields.

If you’re interested in any of these opportunities, please contact Nicole at nicole.sirivansanti@jstart.org or 415.536.5867 ext 124.