Each clubhouse has an area for reading, designated by a mini-library. Everyday, the leaders work with the children on reading skills in our “From Readers to Leaders” program.
Our “From Readers to Leaders” program increases the comprehension level and fundamental reading skills of the kids in our after-school program. This is important, because children who fall behind in reading skills during elementary and middle school often go unnoticed. They can slip through the cracks, continuing through each grade without ever receiving help. When these kids enter higher level courses and are asked to do critical thinking and answer more challenging questions, they begin to really struggle. They perform poorly, lowering their self-esteem and creating a negative school experience. The consequences can be severe, including failure to complete high school. Future earnings potential is decreased, and a cycle of poverty may continue.
Our “From Reader to Leaders” program utilizes a mixture of critical reports and fun, interactive games to ensure the kids are working not only on their basic reading skills, but also on their ability to understand underlying themes and plot structures in books.
One of the games the kids play is Cakewalk. Some of the Kids Clubs have a mat with a designated walking path. Each square on the path has a question about the story the children read that day. Music is played while the kids walk along the path. When the music stops they answer the question they’re standing on. With games like this, children pay more attention during reading time because they want to excel in the fun games that follow.
Through these activities, children improve their attention span, comprehension level, and basic reading skills. The games’ discussion-style settings helps them practice verbally expressing ideas. Writing reports allows them to learn how to properly construct essays. Both tasks teach them to formulate and communicate ideas, better preparing them for success in high school and higher level education.