Book Buddies, a reading program that teams up hundreds of volunteers with Syracuse elementary students, is expanding -- and it needs more buddies.
The program, run through the United Way of CNY, started nearly a decade ago at one school. Since the pandemic, it’s expanded to five schools, said Laurie Black, the Book Buddies community education director.
Book Buddies currently has 450 students and about 380 volunteers, she said. But, after adding schools to its program, and possibly sixth in the new year, the program needs more buddies.
“Sometimes our staff is working with two or three kids,” Black said. “What we want to do is make sure that every little kiddo has their own volunteer.”
Two days a week, students from kindergarten to third grade spend their 30-minute lunch eating and reading with a volunteer. The students eat lunch with their buddy on Mondays and Wednesdays, or Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Book Buddies is run through United Way of CNY and has a contract with the Syracuse City School District. Book Buddies visit five schools: STEAM at Dr. King Elementary School, Seymour Dual Language Academy, Delaware Primary School, Dr. Edwin E. Weeks Elementary School and Roberts PreK-8 School.
The latest state test scores show only 17% of third graders in Syracuse are reading on grade level. Black says Book Buddies read at the lowest performing schools in Syracuse.
In the classroom, teachers may not have the time to teach a required curriculum and personally help students who are behind on reading, Black said.
With Books Buddies, kids get to enjoy reading at their own pace.
“Book Buddies can kind of adjust and pivot and give them the practice that they need at their practice level,” Black said. “You’ll see what’s so great is you’re gonna see them progress over time.”
Black points out that having the kids read more at school can help with literacy, but having them read at home is also beneficial. The program also gives students five sets of 10 books throughout the school year to take home and keep.
“We’re really trying to engage parents in a process because twice a week is great, but really kids need to be practicing every day,” Black said. “If we can get these books in the hands of the parents, we are hoping parents will practice more with the kiddos.”
Volunteer Alexis Trujillo reads with her second grade Book Buddy Jacob at Seymour Dual Language Academy.United Way of CNY
Dylan Tripodi, a program coordinator at Upstate Medical University, is a Book Buddy volunteer. He said he understands how the COVID-19 pandemic caused some students to fall behind in school. He said by volunteering, he hopes to help the kids get through rougher times.
“They’re a little behind the eight ball when it comes to their reading and comprehension,” Tripodi said. “So any chance we can help them through that is really cool. And then just to spend time with these kids. You can tell it’s like a big part of their day.”
Book Buddies provides all the books volunteers will read. Black said each student also has a folder to track their progress over time.
Volunteers commit to a half hour or an hour lunch, once a week. The only requirements are being 18 or older and passing a background check. Some volunteers include community members, staff at Upstate Medical University, the Department of Social Services and Syracuse University faculty and students.
Anyone interested in volunteering can visit the Book Buddies website and sign-up.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported how often volunteers work with students. Volunteers should be willing to participate one day a week.
Book Buddies volunteer Mary Beth Bronk reads with a third grade student at Seymour Dual Language AcademyUnited Way of CNY