Volunteers help kids build self-confidence through reading
Meet Molly Tannehill. Molly graduated from NKU in May 2018 and works as a substitute teacher. One afternoon each week, Molly serves as a Book Buddy at Our Daily Bread’s Kids Club.
“I love having a way to get actual books into kids’ hands. Everyone is pushing technology so much these days, but it’s really important for kids to hold books, to interact with the pictures. You can’t do that with a screen.”
Book Buddies is volunteer program that operates Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Kids Club. Volunteers help kids select a book, and then are read aloud to. After each book, the kid crosses a square off on their Book Buddy Bingo card. When they complete a Bingo, they win a pack of sugar-free gum.
While the kids may be in it for the Bingo, Molly knows that reading means so much more. She shared one of her favorite stories from her past two years as a Book Buddy.
“I was working with one kid and he was really quiet and shy. He was also about 2 grade levels behind in reading. At first, I’d read one page and then he’d read one. By the time he graduated from Kids Club, his confidence had really increased. He was reading Diary of a Wimpy Kidand looking forward to reading.”
Who should sign up to be a Book Buddy? Molly recommends anyone who is interested in helping kids build self-confidence.
It is a chance for kids to have all of the attention on them, one-on-one. They don’t get that very often, since teachers have so many students to attend to. This builds their self-confidence, and if they have self-confidence, they can grow and learn. Everything is built on this foundation.”
If you are interested in becoming a Book Buddy either weekly or monthly, please contact Kids Club Coordinator, Kate Daly at Kidsclub@ourdailybread.us.
