
Make a difference in the life of a child.
We are recruiting volunteer tutors for the 2023-2024 school year. Join us to eliminate the reading gap and strengthen lives through the power of literacy and mentorship!

Who We Are
ReadingPals is a statewide early literacy initiative that provides volunteer mentors for students from Pre-K to 3rd grade who may need extra help, utilizing one-on-one or small group settings.
Our ReadingPals volunteers have been paired with thousands of young children in Florida. They build meaningful relationships and help improve their social-emotional development and early literacy skills.
What We Hope to Achieve
MENTORING: To build genuine, impactful relationships between students and our volunteer mentors.
EARLY LITERACY: To improve students’ understanding of the fundamental building blocks of early literacy.
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: To help students build a strong social-emotional foundation through self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making.
What We Do
ReadingPals offers volunteers an opportunity to build meaningful relationships with young children, while helping them improve their social-emotional development and early literacy skills.
In Miami-Dade County, ReadingPals spend 1 hour per week working with students in grades Pre-K-3 from marginalized communities. We partner with schools and after-school programs to empower children with the necessary literacy skills and resources to read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade, a milestone that is a significant indicator of a child’s future educational development. Uplift literacy provides free reading interventions and mentoring sessions to cultivate every child’s full potential and assist in the transition from “learning to read to reading to learn.”
Every student participating in our ReadingPals program receives a brand new, quality book every month of the school year to help build their at-home library and create a print-rich environment.

Requirements
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Commit to one hour a week
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Must be at least 18 years of age
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Undergo a Level II background check through Miami-Dade County Public Schools
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Submit a volunteer application on our website
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Complete one literacy instruction training session
2023-2024 Volunteer Sites and Session Times:
Google Map List of Partner School Sites
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BridgePrep Academy (13300 SW 120th St, Kendall): Tuesdays - Fridays- 11:30am-12:30pm
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Centro Mater East (418 SW 4th Avenue, 33130, East Little Havana): Mondays- Thursdays- 9:00-10:00am
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Centro Mater West (8298 NW 103rd St, Hialeah Gardens): Mondays & Wednesdays- 9:30am-10:30am
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Centro Mater Walker Park (800 W 29th St, Hialeah): Tuesdays & Thursdays- 9:00am-10:00am
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Colonial Drive Elementary (Richmond Heights): Tuesdays & Thursdays- 10:50-11:50am/Mon.-Wed.-9:35-10:50am
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David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center (15000 Bay Vista Blvd, North Miami): Tuesdays & Thursdays- 10:30-11:030am
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M.A. Milam K-8 Center (Hialeah): Mondays & Tuesdays- 9:35am-10:35am / Thursdays & Fridays 10:35am-11:35am
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Robert Ingram Elementary (600 Ahmad St, Opalocka): Tuesday & Thursday- 10:00am– 11:00am
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Southside Preparatory Academy (45 SW 13th St, Downtown): Tuesdays and Thursdays- 9:05am-10:05am
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The Motivational Edge (1550 NW 36th St, Allapattah): Mondays-Thursdays- 3:00-4:00pm
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The Home Team (5800 SW 66th St, South Miami, FL 33143): Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:30-4:30pm
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Treasure Island Elementary (7540 E Treasure Dr, North Bay Village): Tuesdays & Thursdays- 9:30-10:30am
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Tiny Tots and Learning Center (18901 SW 106th Av, Cutler Bay): Tuesdays 9:00-10:00am & Thursdays- 10:00-11:00am
Upcoming Training Session:
Friday, October 6th at 10:30am - Hialeah Gardens Library - 13451 NW 107th Ave, Hialeah Gardens, FL 33018
Questions about becoming a ReadingPals volunteer? Email us!
ReadingPals is managed by The Children’s Movement of Florida and administered through 15 United Ways/supporting agencies -- with the help of numerous community partners across the state.
