Reading Pals: Rewriting Stories Through the Power of Reading

In a world increasingly dominated by screens, the importance of reading cannot be overstated. Yet, many children struggle to read at grade level. In fact, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, 66% of fourth graders in the United States are not proficient in reading. From birth until third grade, children learn to read, but in fourth grade a pivotal transition occurs: they begin reading to learn. Unfortunately, many young people fail to make this transition, which can have lifelong implications.

A mission to change lives

Reading Pals was founded in Chico 14 years ago to address this urgent need. The organization brings trained community volunteers into schools to provide one-on-one reading support for struggling students. Since 2011, Reading Pals has paired over 3,700 students with more than 1,700 community volunteers, reading together for over 87,000 hours. The results have been remarkable: students’ confidence levels soar and that changes everything.

The hallmark of Reading Pals is a simple framework and lesson plans designed to make it easy for volunteers to engage with students. “If you can read, you can help a child learn how to read,” says program coordinator Marianna Castillo. The most important role of the volunteer is to show the students they are working with how to be good learners.

Reading Pals’ remarkable results

Statistics show the remarkable outcomes of the Reading Pals program. 86% of children placed with a Reading Pal quadruple their literacy learning rate, with most catching up to their grade-appropriate reading level during their nine months in the program. The most difficult impact to measure in statistics, but perhaps the most important, is how the shift in their self-confidence changes the trajectory of their future.

Just ask Eriberto, the first student ever paired with a volunteer 14 years ago. He was a fifth grader reading at a second-grade level and had struggled with being made fun of by his classmates, which left him with very little self-confidence. He and his volunteer, René, began meeting weekly. René showed him strategies for tackling unfamiliar words and encouraged him in his efforts. In just three months, Eriberto gained three years’ worth of literacy skills. He entered junior high with a new outlook on himself and his education.

Seven years later, Eriberto wrote a scholarship essay about those three months he and René spent reading together. (The prompt for the essay was: “Write about someone who changed your life.”) Today, Eriberto teaches high school in Butte County and has a picture of him and René from fifth grade hanging on his classroom wall. He still credits René with the difference he made in his life.

Reading Pals is expanding its horizons

While Reading Pals is well established in Butte County, the organization is launching 11 new school sites in Shasta County and needs volunteers and donors to make this new program successful. Plans are in the works for more schools and communities to add programs. They are in the process of reestablishing programs in Glenn and Tehama that were discontinued during COVID. They are also working with Siskiyou County on plans to launch programs at schools there later this year or early next year.

While Reading Pals was originally started with the children in mind, it has evolved into a meaningful community engagement opportunity for people of all ages. Volunteers can plug in and make a difference, helping to unlock the gift of literacy for children in their community.

If you’re interested in making a difference in the life of a child, consider volunteering or sponsoring a student with Reading Pals. Your time and support could help transform a child’s future, one hour at a time. Visit readingpalschico.org to learn more about how you can help. Together, we can ensure that every child reads at grade level and has the best chance at a thriving future.