Training kicks off this week for the 200+ teen tutors and 55+ teachers who will begin READ USA Literacy Tutoring in 14 DCPS elementary schools on August 26th!
This year, our teen tutors will experience something new during READ USA Literacy Tutoring training: they will participate in Job Essentials Roundtable discussions with professionals from various sectors across our community.
From Day 1 of their time with READ USA, our teen tutors—many of whom are starting their first job—begin their career readiness journey!
Thank you to the professionals who joined us for our first Job Essentials Roundtable today, including (front) Natalie Dreyer and School Board Member Melody Bolduc, District 7, and READ USA Board Member and DCPS Teacher of the Year Vincent Taylor (rear, in the jacket).
Do you know of a business or organization interested in engaging with our teen tutors? Let us know!
For our teen tutors, the one-hour Job Essentials Roundtables are embedded in Day 1 of READ USA Literacy Tutoring training for a reason: as teen tutors begin this new (and for many, their first) work experience, our goal is to expose them to professionals, careers, and workforce skills that will enhance the career readiness training they will receive from READ USA during the coming school year.
For professionals, the Job Essentials Roundtables provide the opportunity to share insights and experiences on job-readiness topics such as communication, time management, professionalism, and providing and receiving feedback. Professionals will inspire our teens and help them maximize the learning and development opportunities they will soon receive. Plus, professionals have the opportunity to “plug” their own organizations and workforce development opportunities!
By giving one hour now, professionals help our tutors better prepare for all that is to come and reap even more benefits as their journey and growth progress!
The Job Essentials Roundtables take place on three upcoming “Day 1” Literacy Tutoring training days at the Schultz Center (4019 Boulevard Center Drive):
- Monday, August 4th – 1:30-2:30
- Friday, August 8th – 12:30-1:30
- Sunday, August 10th – 12:30-1:30
Sign up to participate HERE! Also, if you have a suggestion or contact to share (or any questions!), please email joe@readusainc.com.
Team READ USA looks forward to seeing all our teen tutors and teachers in the coming days during training!
THANK YOU to the local professionals who have signed up to support our teens as they begin this journey!
Dinner plans for Monday? 🍔
If you don’t have dinner plans this coming Monday…well, you do now: 20% of your meal at local Whataburger restaurants will be donated to READ USA!
On Monday, August 4, from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., eat at any Whataburger restaurant in Duval County – eight locations in total – and Whataburger will donate 20% of sales (dine-in, take-out/drive-thru, or catering) to support literacy and workforce development in our community:
- Normandy Village Parkway (7755 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32221)
- Old Middleburg Road (8239 Old Middleburg Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32244)
- Phillips Hwy (7165 Philips Hwy, Jacksonville, FL 32256)
- Mandarin (10600 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32257)
- Southside & Baymeadows (8325 Southside Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32256)
- 103rd St. (6251 103rd St., Jacksonville, FL 32210)
- Beach Boulevard (8840 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32216)
- Atlantic Blvd & Kernan Blvd. N (11559 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32225)
- Neptune Beach (1201 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, FL 32266)
Whataburger has long been a supporter of education initiatives through Whataburger Feeding Student Success, which focuses the company’s charitable giving at the intersection of food insecurity and education. The initiative funds Community Investments, College Resource Rooms, and Scholarships.
Locally, Whataburger has partnered with the Jacksonville Jaguars – also a READ USA sponsor and supporter – to host Literacy Locker Rooms at elementary schools in Duval County. Last year specifically, Whataburger sponsored the Literacy Locker Room at Beauclerc Elementary – and even went above and beyond by donating $1,000 to the school and providing free breakfast for the students!
Now YOU can be a part of Whataburger’s support of students, teens, and teachers in Duval County on Monday, August 4!
Thank you to Whataburger and Silvercreek Group, a local Whataburger franchisee, for providing this opportunity to READ USA!
We’ll see you all at a local Whataburger on August 4th!
See You Saturday! (And Wednesday?) - Updated
Team READ USA will be at multiple back-to-school events across Duval County this coming Saturday, August 2nd!
We look forward to seeing thousands of smiling young faces on Saturday at:
- BEAM Back-to-School Event & READ USA Book Fair: 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Carver Recreation Center (777 5th Ave. South, Jacksonville Beach)
UPDATE on 8/1: We only need 1 more volunteer to help with set-up from 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.! - Historic Eastside Back-to-School Event with Kids Hope Alliance and The Church of Oakland: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds Expo Center (510 Fairgrounds Place)
- Florida Blue Back-to-School Event – TWO locations: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Florida Blue Center at River City Marketplace (13249 City Square Drive, Suite 103) and St. Johns Town Center (4855 Town Center Parkway)
Volunteers: There is still an opportunity to support Duval County Public Schools! - No longer needed!
Volunteers
Duval County Public Schools will host a celebratory Back-to-School Bash specifically for DCPS teachers and district staff on Wednesday, August 6, from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. READ USA is recruiting 20 volunteers to assist with welcoming teachers and staff, helping with seating, and misc. other tasks on-site.
Volunteers are no longer needed for this event - thank you to those who signed up!
Thank you to our wonderful volunteers for helping make our presence at these events possible! We can’t wait to share photos from these events, which are always a fun time for everyone involved!
Children’s Book: Who Was Betsy Ross? by James Buckley, Jr.
Illustrated by John O’Brien and Nancy Harrison
Who Was Betsy Ross? is a children’s biography that introduces young readers to the life of Betsy Ross, the woman traditionally credited with sewing the first American flag. The book traces her early years as the eighth of 17 children growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, her career as a skilled seamstress, and her role during the American Revolution.
While the book mentions the well-known story of her making the first flag, it also brings attention to the fact that there is no definitive historical proof of this event. Instead, the book focuses on her confirmed contributions to the war effort, such as sewing tents, mending uniforms, and preparing ammunition cartridges for the Continental Army.
The text is brought to life with illustrations by John O’Brien and Nancy Harrison, which help visualize key moments in Ross’s life and the broader historical context. Informational sidebars throughout the book add depth by providing background on the Revolutionary War and life in colonial America.
Who Was Betsy Ross? is a highly valued educational resource and engaging text that uses storytelling to engage readers. This makes it a great choice for young readers interested in history and the people who shaped it.
Submitted by Judy Howard, M.Ed.
Parent Education Corner: A Fun & Educational Summer Informational Text Project
As we continue with our series about Informational Texts, here is an engaging and educational project you can do at home with your child before school starts in just a couple of weeks!
Informational texts are nonfiction books and articles that help students discover real facts about the world around them. Whether we’re reading about animal habitats, space exploration, weather patterns, or famous historical figures, students are learning how to read with a purpose—to gather information, understand key ideas, and share what they’ve learned.
One way to gain knowledge about a topic and build confidence in presenting the information is to do a fun, creative, and meaningful activity with your support at home. Your child will use an informational text—a nonfiction book, a child-friendly article, or a reliable website—to research a topic of their choice. Then, they’ll create a mini presentation (e.g., poster, report, or visual aid) to teach the family about it.
Project:
“Teach Me Something!”
This hands-on task gives your child the chance to choose a topic they’re interested in, learn about it through an informational source, and then become the teacher by presenting what they discovered to the family.
Materials Needed:
- An informational book, article, or online text (from the library, classroom, or trusted website).
- Art supplies (paper, crayons, markers, glue) or access to a digital device (optional).
- Time set aside to read, ask questions, and work together.
Steps to Complete the Project:
- Choose a topic that sparks curiosity:
This could be anything your child is excited about: dinosaurs, volcanoes, sharks, planets, a famous athlete, or even how tornadoes form! - Explore and gather information:
Read together or encourage independent reading. Help your child identify and write down 3 to 5 interesting facts or important ideas from their reading. - Create a presentation:
Let your child choose how they want to present what they’ve learned:- A poster with drawings and labeled diagrams
- A “fact book” they write themselves
- A digital slideshow (if you prefer screen time!)
Be sure to include headings, fun facts, pictures, and key vocabulary!
- Teach the family:
Encourage your child to present their project to you or other family members. Ask follow-up questions to get them to talk more deeply about what they learned.
Why This Activity Matters:
Working with informational texts helps students:
- Build strong reading comprehension skills,
- Learn how to research and summarize key ideas,
- Expand their vocabulary and background knowledge,
- And develop confidence by sharing what they know in their own words!
Submitted by Judy Howard, M.Ed.
Do you have any questions or ideas for the Parent Education Corner? Anything you’d like to learn? Let us know here!