About Strong Start to reading™

Strong Start® Charitable Organization offers a literacy program called Letters, Sounds and Words™, which has been specifically designed to help young children who need extra practice when learning essential early reading skills. To learn more about Strong Start, please visit their website.

The Letters, Sound sand Words program at our school

he Letters, Sounds and Words™ program is a fun and engaging way for community members to be involved in helping young children learn to read. The program was designed specifically to engage volunteers with little to no previous experience working with children. The required training, prescriptive program manuals, and enjoyable activities make it easy for anyone volunteer.

Volunteer’s work one-on-one with a child aged 5-9 in a local school, playing carefully designed games and activities that boost literacy skills. The games are organized in 4 strands: Letters, Sounds, Words, and Building Words, and children are enrolled in 2-3 strands at a time. It is often the case that a child will see multiple volunteers each week, depending on their volunteer’s availability. Examples of games include: board games, books, matching games, movement games, and even versions of games that are similar to other popular games like bingo and twister. Not only do volunteers help young children learn to read, they help build their confidence and self-esteem.

How you can get involved at Strong Start at our school

You can make a difference! Volunteer and help a young child learn to read at our school. Contact our school’s Strong Start Site Co-ordinator if you are interested to complete the volunteer process which includes completing the Volunteer Application Form

As a Strong Start volunteer, you will:

  • Attend two, 2-hour training sessions
  • Work one-on-one with a child in SK, Grade 1 or 2 in our school
  • Play games to develop the child’s literacy skills (all games and materials are provided)
  • Make a minimum time commitment of 30 minutes/week for 10 weeks

“It’s so exciting to see a child start on that path of identifying letters and sounds…it’s amazing to watch. I would highly recommend this program for anyone who wants to volunteer.” – Bethany Jakob, Volunteer Coach

To learn more about the Strong Start’s Letters, Sounds and Words program and register for training, please click here.

_______________________________________________

Downloadable Resource for Parents

Strong Start is pleased to introduce our new, free, downloadable resources for parents.