Let's Help Team Read Make a Difference!

Hello there! My name is Amina and I’m a junior in high school. This is my second year working as a coach with Team Read at Thorndyke, and over the past year, I’ve had the chance to work with several students.

When I first joined Team Read, I saw it as a simple way to earn money while helping kids improve their literacy skills. I wanted to inspire a love for reading, just like I had growing up. But the more I got involved, I realized that the program does more than just that. It helps them improve their reading and comprehension skills but also develops a genuine love and passion for reading. 

During my first year, I didn’t have a specific reader assigned to me, so I found myself doubling up with other coaches or substituting. This made it difficult to form personal bonds with the students and many of them wanted the coach that they had already connected with. Partnering up with multiple kids was a challenging experience but it taught me a really valuable lesson: every child learns differently. Patience and understanding are key. We can’t push kids into positions they aren’t comfortable with but instead we need to meet them where they are.

This year, the lessons I learned helped me approach my reader with more flexibility and patience. I’ve been able to adapt my coaching style to suit her needs, which has made our sessions more effective and rewarding.

One of the most rewarding moments for me was with one of my readers from last year. She had started at level A and by the end of the year, she was at G! At first she had struggled a lot but as the year went on, she became more confident in her skills and was excited about reading. She even told me she was now getting books from the library to read at home. This year, she came up to me and asked if I remembered her. When I said yes, her face lit up with the biggest smile.

Team Read has shown me how far compassion and kindness can go in a child’s education. The connections we form with these kids have a lasting impact on their confidence and love for learning. Not only does Team Read help our students, but it helps us coaches build critical thinking skills, flexibility, and patience. That’s why I believe Team Read is an organization that truly deserves to be funded so that we can continue inspiring kids to love reading for years to come.

Thank you for your support!