The Hudson Reads Literacy at Lunch program at M.C. Smith Elementary School offers each participating student the opportunity to meet with a member of our community during their lunch/recess time to read and converse about great books.
These mentor/student partnerships allow for one-on-one time with an adult, which encourages the building of reading confidence, self-esteem and academic skills, as well as the cultivation a love of reading and learning.
Lunch/Recess Times: 11:20 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (Grades 3-5) and 12:00 p.m.-12:40 p.m. (Grades K-2)
If you would like to be a lunchtime reading mentor for one of our elementary students, please complete this Hudson Reads Mentoring Application and Information 2024-25 form and return it to:
M.C. Smith Elementary School
ATTN: Hudson Reads/Carrie Patch
102 Harry Howard Avenue
Hudson, NY 12534
You can also submit the application via email to Associate Principal Carrie Patch at patchc@hudsoncsd.org
Community members can be reading mentors in the Literacy at Lunch program on whichever days they are able to do so, but please make sure you are able to make a school-year commitment to the program. Please take a moment to review the Literacy at Lunch program information, policies and procedures below.
Literacy at Lunch Program Information
Mission: To promote children’s literacy and a love of learning through paired reading experiences with caring individuals.
Program: The program offers each student the opportunity to meet and read with a member of our community during their lunch/recess time to read and converse about great books. These mentor/student partnerships allow for one-on-one time with an adult, which encourages the building of confidence and self-esteem as well as academic skills.
Lunch: A reading mentor and child are paired through teacher recommendation or parent request to meet weekly to read and discuss great books during the child’s lunch/recess time (11:20 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m.-12:40 p.m.). On-site coordinators supervise the reading hour and offer any needed support. Books are provided or if you choose to bring your own it must be approved by the site coordinator.
Goals:
- To encourage a child’s interest in reading by…
- Generating enthusiasm for books and reading
- Helping the child overcome apprehension of reading
- Building listening, comprehension, and vocabulary skills
- Increasing attention span and ability to concentrate
- Encouraging reading at home
To expand a child’s opportunities for success by…
To expand a child’s opportunities for success by…- Providing a mentor who will act as a positive role model
- Exposing the child to new information and experiences
- Helping the child articulate thoughts
- Enhancing imagination, insight, and independent thinking
- Building self-esteem and confidence
- To facilitate meaningful volunteer contributions by…
- Matching children one-to-one with caring adults within a structured relationship
- Creating a link between schools and organizations
- Preparing Reading Mentors through quality training and orientations
- Continuing a valuable school and community relationship
A Reading Mentor:
- Has lunch, talks with and listens to the student, reads aloud with the child, and encourages the child’s interest in reading by exploring and discussing books together.
- Provides positive, structured, consistent, and weekly attention.
- Builds a relationship with a student.
- Makes a commitment to volunteer for one school year and is encouraged to continue reading with the same child in subsequent years.
- Mentors may share a student if they are unable to commit to once a week. Mentors will meet with the student every other week.
- Mentors agree to attend the 2-hour training prior to the start date of the program.
- The District reserves the right to terminate your volunteer position at will.
Has lunch, talks with and listens to the student, reads aloud with the child, and encourages the child’s interest in reading by exploring and discussing books together.Note: Mentors are not expected to improve the child’s reading fluency or decoding skills; this is a mentoring program, not a tutoring program.