Established 2007
The purpose of Readers Are Leaders is to instill the love of reading in young students by having volunteers read in their classrooms on a regular basis.
Click here to see the 2021-2022 Readers Are Leaders Book List.
The purpose of Readers Are Leaders is to instill the love of reading in young students by having volunteers read in their classrooms on a regular basis.
Click here to see the 2021-2022 Readers Are Leaders Book List.
Assistance League of San Jose members entertain, enlighten and encourage the students as they read quality, age-appropriate literature to them. On each visit members read two books that are then donated to the classroom library along with enrichment activities to instill a love of reading and to improve the quality and quantity of the classroom library for in-class reading. Topics cover science, biographies and fiction.
Since in-classroom presentations were not possible for 2020-21, volunteers prepared three distributions for about 1200 students in 50 participating first, second, third, and fourth grade classrooms at 10 schools in four San Jose public school districts (Alum Rock Unified, Franklin-McKinley, Oak Grove, and San Jose Unified). The distributions included hardback books for the classroom libraries and paperback books for the students to read and keep at home. Included were enrichment activities to extend and reinforce the content or lessons learned in the books (instructions in Spanish when indicated) plus a personally-written note from a member encouraging the child to continue to enjoy reading while building reading skills. Schools have expressed appreciation of the accommodation and looked forward to each distribution.
Laurie LoForti, Stipe Elementary School
Delia Trejo, 2nd/3rd Grade Combo Education, Bachrodt Elementary School
Katsuri Basu, Principal, Lyndale Elementary School
I so appreciate our partnership over the years and also appreciate the additional money that I could use to buy books as well. I look forward to the day the readers will return in person as that is such a huge part of the gift – seeing readers who are passionate to share books with students.
Dedra Downing, 2nd grade Teacher, Stipe Elementary