Detroit Public Schools Community District believes that it is critically important to build a culture of literacy within the school system and throughout the city. To accomplish this, we will need the support of district and school faculty and staff, business partners, foundations, families, and community members. It's easy to become a DPSCD Let's Read Volunteer!

Register yourself to volunteer by clicking here. Be sure to have your driver's license. You will need to take a picture of it with your phone or computer to upload into the volunteer system. When asked how you would like to volunteer, click "Let's Read."

 

After you have completed the online volunteer registration, you will receive an email from the Office of Family and Community Engagement welcoming you to volunteer with DPSCD and introducing you to the school leadership where you will serve. The email also explains next steps in the process for you to get a volunteer badge. Once you have completed the processes outlined in the welcome email, you are ready to attend Let's Read Volunteer Orientation Training. You will be provided a list of dates, times and locations for training events.

 

For your information, you can click on the training presentation to get a better understanding of the work you will do with students. 

As a Let’s Read volunteer, you will work with assigned students in kindergarten through third grade on the foundational skills of literacy. Each child is provided a workbook to complete with your support and guidance. The workbook is designed to reinforce skills that every child needs to build the foundations of literacy and become good readers.

 

Students are selected to participate in the Let's Read Tutoring Program based on their demonstrated reading ability from diagnostic and growth assessments in their i-Ready Phonics Overall Placement. Teachers and school leaders look at data to determine which students would best benefit from the program. The workbooks are a resource designed to help students increase reading skills across various levels:

Let’s Read volunteers will also help students develop a love for reading by reading books selected by the student for pleasure reading. The teacher will assist the child with selecting a book to read. The volunteer will read with the child and record their reading in the notes page in the back of the student's assigned workbook. As a Let's Read Volunteer, you have the unique opportunity to demonstrate the value and importance of reading while mentoring students in ways that build their confidence, self-esteem, and joy for learning. 

Thank you for your support in creating a culture of literacy within our schools and our city!