Reading Partner Programs

A critical factor in reading achievement is, quite simply, the amount of time children actually spend reading. To provide reading opportunities, LINC partners with community members to take part in weekly and monthly reading partner programs at a variety of neighborhood sites. Following are the reading partner opportunities provided by LINC:

TEEN TUTOR READING PARTNER PROGRAM

LINC's Teen Tutor Reading Partner Program—one of the largest cross-age tutoring programs in New York City—trains middle school and high school students to tutor elementary school students one-on-one in reading at least once a week at the elementary school for a least one hour, either during the school day or after school.

INTERGENERATIONAL READING PARTNER PROGRAM

Intergenerational reading programs pair senior citizens in senior centers with youngsters at nearby elementary schools or daycare centers. For many children, these are the only one-on-one reading experiences they have each week. Casual conversations with senior volunteers also provide children with opportunities to gain self-confidence and increase their vocabulary.

YOUNG READERS CLUB

In this less structured approach to partnered reading, LINC pairs older elementary students with new readers at their school.

PARENT PROGRAMS

LINC works with parents who typically are not in the school leadership mainstream, whose first language may not be English, and who often do not believe they have the expertise to be actively involved in their children's education. Throughout a range of programs, parents learn simple ways to enhance reading skills at home—such as alphabet games and finger rhymes—and receive other information that will have long-term positive effects. Following are some of the programs offered by LINC to parents:

VIP (VERY INVOLVED PARENTS) ACADEMY

This intensive series of workshops is designed for parents who have demonstrated a desire to become reading leaders in their communities. Participants learn tools and techniques for community organizing around shared early literacy development goals. Alumni of this program are able to plan and host programs and events that complement LINC’s efforts.

BOOKS AND BREAKFAST

This 3-session series provides practical tips for supporting young readers and connects parents to their local libraries.

BRING LITERACY HOME

Parents learn strategies to help their children achieve and maintain grade level reading proficiency. Topics include school involvement, homework help, reading tips, local literacy resources, book clubs, summer reading, and literacy games. 

LITERACY CELEBRATIONS

High-energy reading events—featuring everything from storytellers to library card registrations to themed vocabulary games—are hosted by LINC and their community partners during school hours, out-of-school time or on weekends throughout the year. Following are some of LINC's literacy celebrations:

ANIMAL DAYS

Animal Days promote reading and literacy activities around an animal theme and related reading message. Each month is devoted to a different animal.

  • January: KOALA – Keeping Our Adventures in Literacy Alive
  • February: BEAR – Be Excited About Reading
  • March: FROG - Family Reading Only Grows
  • April: RABBIT - Read Amazing Beautiful Books Instead of Television
  • May: ELEPHANT – Emphasizing Literacy in Every Person's Home And Neighborhood Together
  • June: GIRAFFE - Getting Into Reading Always For Fun and Excitement
  • July: OWL - Our World of Literacy
  • August: LION - Literacy In Our Neighborhood
  • September: TURTLE - Teaming Up Readers Toward Literacy Excellence
  • October: BAT - Books Are Treats
  • November: BIRD - Be Into Reading Daily
  • December: DEER - Drop Everything Enjoy Reading

PAJAMA NIGHTS

In order to encourage parents to read to their children every day, LINC partners with local libraries. Parents read bedtime stories to children one-on-one, guest readers read bedtime stories to children in groups, and children act out selected bedtime stories or do related arts and crafts activities.

THEMED READ-A-THONS

Reading competitions encourage children to read as much as they can in a given time period, and serve to increase reading stamina.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Because of LINC's programming, outreach strategy and track record for establishing strong working relationships in low-income communities, we are sought out to partner with leading organizations that want to reach the populations we serve. Following are examples of how LINC works with partners to provide reading opportunities for children in the community:

TIGER Collaboration Read-a-thon with Bronx Zoo

Every year LINC partners with the Bronx Zoo (Wildlife Conservation Society) to present Together in Getting Everyone Reading (TIGER). Through this program, we jointly promote environmental conservation and seek to get children excited about reading. At each participating school, LINC sponsors a school-wide themed read-a-thon, hosts full school-day reading celebrations called TIGER Day, and works with school administrators and teachers to provide fun activities for students that encourage additional reading at home and at school. The TIGER collaboration culminates with a fieldtrip to the zoo for participating students. 

Reading Corners

LINC facilitates two types of reading corner activities for children. The first type usually takes place at a large event such as a community health fair where a place for reading with parents or volunteers is made available to children. The other type takes place at a business such as a Laundromat or clothing store where a "corner" is designated for children to read individually.