I was motivated to start tutoring with the Family Care Network by the startling and frightening statistics that, on average, 85% of foster youth in San Luis Obispo County consistently score below grade level on statewide language assessments. When faced with this incredible need, how could I NOT get involved? And because I love reading, I asked the agency to match me with a child who was struggling with this subject. I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in a new Family Care Network training to become a Reading Specialist. During the training, agency volunteers learned specific skills and strategies to help support children who are reading below grade level. This training helped me to feel more confident in my abilities as a tutor.

When I first met the youth that I would tutor, I was a bit nervous. All I knew about Andrew was that he was a 15 year old living in foster care who had struggled with reading for a long time. Upon meeting him, Andrew said emphatically, “I hate reading—especially out loud.” With this proclamation ringing in my ears I began to wonder how this was going to work. After talking—and negotiating—for a bit, Andrew and I decided to meet once a week at the local public library so that Andrew could choose his own books to read. =

Because of Andrew’s self professed hated of reading and his history of failure, I knew I needed to go slow and let him get comfortable. The first time we went to the library we didn’t even read; we just walked around and I pointed out all of the different types of reading material he could choose from. We spent several meetings this way before he trusted me enough to start reading for me, but by that time, I was able to use “book shopping” time as a reward for working hard on our reading program.

Although we still have a long way to go, I am pleased to say that Andrew has already come a long way. The purpose of reading is now making sense to Andrew, and he applies his new skills to billboards and even license plate frames on our way to and from the library. He is making progress in our reading program as well, but the ultimate sign of accomplishment for me is what I saw the last time we met: a 15 year old boy who “hates to read” begging the librarian, who is turning out the lights, for “just one more book, just one more book!”

Success!

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*names and photos of clients are ficticious to protect their identity