How do children learn to love reading and make it a part of their everyday lives? It has to start early and it has to be a habit.
For a child, reading has a lot of competition, from television to sports activities. While many children can balance their interests in video games with an hour curled up with a book, not all are blessed with parents who have the time, interest, and patience it takes to instill a child with a love of reading. The Volpe Center Lunch Buddies Program, which began this past March, is an important part of the effort. Twice a month volunteers from the Volpe Center walk to the Robert F. Kennedy Elementary School in Cambridge to spend a half-hour reading to second graders. Sixty people signed up for the program, making it possible to have a one-on-one reading program.
On the first day, the volunteers waited in the second grade classroom to find out who their buddy was (amid whispers and giggles from the children). Then the names were called out and it was all very quiet for the first few minutes until the shyness wore off - and the questions began! Before the books were opened, the buddies wanted to ask questions, they wanted to know everything about their reading partner - from their favorite color to the names of their pets! Then it was time for some serious reading. Sitting on tiny chairs or on the floor, each volunteer began reading to his or her buddy. What typically happens at each session is that everyone becomes so engrossed in reading that the teachers have to flash overhead lights or call out to signal that the session has ended. This is usually met with groans from children and adults alike. Clearly, both the buddies and the volunteers greatly enjoy and benefit from this program.
"This book is cool!!"
According to Volpe volunteers the program is working. After they finish a book the children fill in the Books We Have Read Together sheet. One child wrote "this book is cool!" and followed it with a long list of reasons why! Children are learning to love books and to see them as part of a social structure, not just an isolated activity.
The Volpe TEAM Effort
Lunch Buddies is one element of the Volpe volunteer program, known as the Volpe TEAM (Tutoring, Educating, and Mentoring) Effort. The Lunch Buddies program replaced the mini-course program at the Robert F. Kennedy Elementary School that had volunteers teaching subjects ranging from computer science to stocks and bonds to 7th graders. At the Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School, volunteers work with students on transportation-based projects. Finally, in the Adult Basic Education/English as a Second Language (Kendall Square Learning Project - KSLP) operating out of the Volpe Center, volunteers help adults to either learn or improve their English. The goal is to help integrate the students into American society and enable them to get better jobs. The Volpe TEAM Effort, now in its seventh year, reinforces the Volpe Center's commitment to the community by encouraging Volpe and other DOT employees and contractors to volunteer in a variety of educational activities in the City of Cambridge.
Return to Top
