Library - King Library - Youth Services


Virtual Volunteering - Teen & Undergraduate Instructors of Reading Comprehension through a Social Justice Lens

Apply by February 10th to be eligible to teach.

Want to make an important and positive difference in the lives of students in Grades 3-5? Many students currently in these grades are at a disadvantage due to the effects of the pandemic. Once they reach 4th grade, being able to read fluently and for comprehension is absolutely essential for them to be able to excel in ALL their subjects.

We are looking for passionate and dedicated teens and undergrads willing to join a team of instructors to help students improve their reading comprehension skills while exploring social justice issues. The course you’ll be team-teaching is offered completely online via Zoom and is entitled “Reading Comprehension through a Social Justice Lens.” It is a 9-week course, and as a volunteer you would be needed from February 25-April 24  on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:30pm.

You will be trained to be an instructor prior to the start of the series. You have the option of attending training via Zoom on Tuesday, Feb. 11th from 4:30-6:30pm or Thursday, Feb. 13th from 4:30-6:30pm. As an instructor, you will work with at least 1-2 other instructors on small teams, guiding students  through articles on social justice issues.  Topics covered will include discrimination - both historical and present day, as experienced by marginalized communities (such as people with disabilities, refugees and immigrants, people who are unhoused, LGBTQ+ and more). 

You will use the library’s Reading Comprehension curriculum to help guide students to read aloud for decoding, fluency, and comprehension. Students will then summarize articles and respond to questions designed to check their reading comprehension. By being responsive to these students’ needs and providing a means to help them catch up academically, you will empower them with knowledge, understanding, awareness, confidence and the reading skills necessary to succeed in their academics. The impact of this course and your efforts has the potential to set them on a path to academic success and instills in them a growth mindset and the willingness to challenge themselves to keep on trying.

How You Will Make a Difference

As a reading comprehension instructor with a focus on social justice, you will be working with an age group oft-neglected in cultural literacy and advocacy efforts to learn what our current education system may not teach. Additionally, you will be helping elementary school children develop a level of awareness and understanding often not attained until later in their teenage years. Your effort will help them hone their reading comprehension skills, which are absolutely critical for their ability to succeed in academics, as they are at a grade level that requires mastery of reading skills in order to excel in all subjects they are required to take.

Benefits

  • Encourages important discussions amongst community youth
  • Connects you with your community and provides a desired service
  • Share or gain experience with program management skills
  • Develop mentoring skills

Commitment/Schedule

Attend an online 2 hour training session on either February 11th or 13th from 4:30-6:30pm. Willingness to teach the entire 9 weeks  (every Thursday, February 27th - April 24th from 4:30-6 pm) and attend a reflection after each class with co-instructors from 6-6:30pm. Attend a 1-2 hour weekly meeting on Tuesdays at 4:30pm (every Tuesday from Feb. 25 - April 22) to prepare for Thursday's class. Anyone new to volunteering online with San Jose Public Library will also need to complete the Virtual Volunteer Orientation and submit a Volunteer Signature Form. For teens, parents or legal guardians will need to sign the signature form. Undergraduates should also sign the signature form and will receive additional instructions on fingerprinting through the City of San Jose, which is free and a requirement for adult volunteers.

Prospective volunteers should:

  • Be a teen in High School or a college Undergraduate
  • Be willing, interested and comfortable engaging with youth
  • Be creative and possess a willingness to learn and increase students’ reading comprehension skills and confidence

Special Skills

  • Strong knowledge of English language and reading comprehension

Technology Requirements

The class is conducted entirely on Zoom. Virtual volunteers require a stable internet connection and access to either a:

  • Desktop computer
  • Laptop
  • Tablet
  • Or device that can connect to the internet with a working microphone and camera

Email Bridget.Kowalczyk@sjlibrary.org for more information.

Qualifications Required

  • Online Orientation for Virtual Volunteers Completed Must be Yes
  • Oral and written communication skills in English Must be at least High
  • Skilled in basic internet, email, and Microsoft Office Must be Yes