Programs
READING BUDDIES
The Literacy Project works in collaboration with the Eagle Valley Library District to pair teens and elementary age children. The big buddy and the little buddy read together, play reading-based games and participate in group activities. In Reading Buddies, we match volunteer high school students with children in grades 1-3 for an hour of reading time once each week. In Avon, middle school students can also volunteer.
The Reading Buddies Program meets at the Avon Library, Eagle Library, and Gypsum Library for 8-week sessions during the school year and during the summer break. We offer three to four sessions during the year at each library. The 1-hour program includes a group activity, one-to-one reading, reflection time and games. The purpose of Reading Buddies is to provide a leadership, responsibility, and community service opportunities with high school mentors helping to foster a love of reading in elementary school students.
Adult Literacy
Learners in the Adult Literacy Program have diverse stories and backgrounds. They seek to improve their literacy skills and they often have specific goals. To help learners reach these goals, The Literacy Project of Eagle County offers small group English classes and one-on-one tutoring. We also offer other types of literacy support based on individual learner needs, such as GED preparation, specific workplace English education and basic computer skills. Many adult learners in our community already speak and read English well, but they may need additional support to assist them with particular items such as applications, specific workplace goals, like promotions, registering to vote, getting a license, or helping their children with their homework. We offer free small group English classes across the Vail Valley to help all levels of English learners practice their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in English! Most importantly, the Adult Literacy Program seeks to build strong relationships within our community because literacy IS how we find and know one another!
ADULT BASIC LITERACY
Students in this program are adult English speakers who read below an 8th grade level and have practical goals that may include getting a job, earning a driver’s license, or helping their children with homework. A long-term goal might be to earn a high school equivalency degree (GED). In this program, we pair learners with a one-on-one tutor.
Study Friends
The Study Friends program is designed to help middle school students improve their reading, writing, math, and homework skills by pairing them with a trained adult volunteer tutor. The students are usually referred to the program by their student counselor or teacher. The volunteer tutors meet with students for 1-2 hours each week (excluding school holidays), to help students with their homework.
Study Friends help students’ communicate with teachers and raise confidence in the classroom. The Literacy Project matches students and tutors based on their schedules, interests and needs.
Below is the teacher referral form that is required in order to qualify for the Study Friends program. The form can be completed using the online form or by downloading the PDF.
Study Friends Referral (Online Form)
A weekly math tutorial is offered at the Avon and Gypsum Libraries for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students in need of assistance in mathematics. Students need to complete the Study Friends Teacher Referral Form, and schedule a meeting with the program coordinator to become eligible for the math tutorial.
RAISING A READER
Each week this program provides preschool students across the county and low-income families with a fresh set of award-winning children’s books packed into bright red bags. This creative “rotating book bag” creates a home-school connection that engages parents as participating partners in their child’s reading development.