Get ready: the annual READ USA Book Fairs are back from April 8 – May 6, and we need YOU to help make them unforgettable!
There’s nothing quite like the moment a student chooses a brand-new book to call their own. For many of the children we serve, our free Book Fairs are more than a fun day at school — they are an opportunity to build home libraries, spark a love of reading, and experience the joy of picking out a book they’re excited about.
And that’s exactly where our incredible volunteers come in!
Be Part of the Magic
Our Book Fairs are high-energy, joy-filled events — and volunteers are at the heart of it all. Whether you’re helping students browse, restocking or organizing books, or cheering on a young reader as they make their selection, your presence makes a lasting impact.
Volunteering at a READ USA Book Fair is:
No prior experience is needed — just a willingness to jump in and help create a positive, encouraging environment for students!
What to Expect
If it’s your first time volunteering, we’ve got you covered!
When you sign up, our team will provide information, and when you arrive, either a READ USA staff member or READ USA Book Fair Volunteer Lead will give on-site directions. From there, you may:
Expect smiles, excitement, and a little bit of organized chaos — in the best possible way!
Why It Matters
Access to books is one of the most powerful ways to improve literacy outcomes. When students have books at home — particularly books that they chose themselves based on their interests — they are more likely to read more frequently, build confidence, and strengthen the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.
By volunteering, you’re helping put books directly into the hands of children who need them most!
Join Us: Check out the calendar below and sign up for a time that works for you.
We have multiple book fairs coming up, and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved:
Together, we can turn these book fairs into moments that inspire a lifelong love of reading.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Beyond Tutoring: Our AmeriCorps Tutor Leaders Become Part of the Biltmore Family
At Biltmore Elementary School, it truly is all hands on deck.
As a small school with big goals, Biltmore Elementary relies on a strong sense of community, from teachers and staff to volunteers who step in wherever help is needed. Increasingly, that community includes READ USA’s AmeriCorps Tutor Leaders, who are making an impact far beyond their scheduled tutoring hours.
While READ USA Literacy Tutoring takes place Tuesday through Thursday after school, many of the AmeriCorps Tutor Leaders at Biltmore are choosing to give even more of their time: volunteering during the school day, supporting after-school events, and showing up on evenings and weekends to help the school, students, and faculty and staff.
And their presence is making a difference!
Showing Up In Every Way
Over time, READ USA AmeriCorps Tutor Leaders have become familiar faces across the Biltmore campus and the school community.
From assisting with school events to supporting daily needs, tutors have stepped in with a willingness to serve wherever they can. Their involvement has included:
These moments matter. When students see their tutors outside of tutoring — cheering them on, celebrating with them, or simply showing up — it builds trust, connection, and confidence.
More Than Tutors
As Principal Jovana Williams shared, “READ USA’s AmeriCorps Tutor Leaders have truly become part of the Biltmore family. Their willingness to serve, connect, and give back goes beyond tutoring — they show up for our students and our school in many meaningful ways. Whether they’re helping at events, building relationships with families, or stepping in wherever there’s a need, they are modeling for our students what it means to lead through service.”
A Shared Commitment
At its core, this partnership reflects a shared belief: when a community comes together around students, everyone benefits. At Biltmore, that means teachers, staff, families, and volunteers — including READ USA AmeriCorps Tutor Leaders — working side by side to support student success.
“We are incredibly proud of our AmeriCorps Tutor Leaders and the dedication they show not only to their students, but to their schools and communities,” shared our President & CEO Dr. Rob Kelly.
“What’s especially inspiring is how they are learning to recognize needs and step up to meet them. That experience — serving others, taking initiative, and leading with purpose — is shaping them in powerful ways that will serve them well far beyond their time as tutors.”
Thank you to our amazing AmeriCorps Tutor Leaders for going above and beyond to support the Biltmore Elementary school community!
Summer Associate Positions Open at READ USA
Are you looking for a meaningful way to spend your summer, or do you know someone who is?
READ USA is excited to announce a unique opportunity to serve your community, build valuable workforce skills, and be part of an incredible team this summer!
Through funding from the AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program, we are recruiting VISTA Summer Associates to support our Summer Leadership Academy, a dynamic program that develops and prepares our teen tutors for their future careers.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
The VISTA Summer Associate position is a chance to gain hands-on experience in the nonprofit sector while making a real impact.
Summer Associates will receive:
Just as importantly, Summer Associates will gain:
What You’ll Do
As a Summer Associate, you’ll play a key role in bringing the Summer Leadership Academy to life. Responsibilities include:
Learn More & Help Us Spread the Word!
If you know a college student, recent graduate, or young professional looking for a short-term, meaningful summer opportunity to gain real-world experience, please share! You can read the full description and how to apply HERE.
We can’t wait to welcome our VISTA Summer Associates to the READ USA team! Thank you to AmeriCorps VISTA for this wonderful opportunity!
Meet Our Teachers at Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary
We are thankful this week to feature our amazing teachers at Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary
#FastFact about Hogan-Spring Glen: For the 2025-2026 school year, Hogan-Spring Glen has been temporarily operating at the former Windy Hill Elementary campus, just down Beach Boulevard from the original location. The original location, built more than 85 years ago, is being rebuilt and is scheduled to open in August 2027. You can read more about the school here.
At all of our Literacy Tutoring sites, our teachers are vital to helping students achieve grade-level reading proficiency: from supervising and providing in-the-moment support to our teen tutors and AmeriCorps Tutor Leaders to ensuring that our programming is delivered with fidelity, data and reporting are accurate, they make sure that everything operates effectively and efficiently!
Meet our Teachers at Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary below and read why they love the work they do at READ USA—and show them some love on social media HERE!
To better understand the unique role that each of our teacher’s play in our programming, read below:
Teachers of Content are responsible for all literacy content needs of READ USA Literacy Tutoring, ensuring seamless delivery of literacy content needs at each school site. Specifically, Teachers of Content coach and annotate tutor next steps and observations, model lesson parts, and provide tutor professional development. Importantly, they also audit and monitor student literacy growth and oversee student assessments, among other responsibilities.
Teachers of Organization oversee all operational needs of READ USA Literacy Tutoring. This essential role ensures smooth and efficient program delivery, from managing communications with schools, parents, and READ USA staff to collecting and entering weekly student data. Teachers of Organization also handle student discipline, transportation support, and provide oversight of the READ USA aftercare program.
Aftercare Teachers monitor and provide guidance to elementary students awaiting their Literacy Tutoring sessions each day. They are also responsible for student attendance, supper, and snack tracking, and deliver supplemental literacy programming, such as read-alouds and other literacy-focused activities.
THANK YOU to our incredible teachers at Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary for all you do for our students and teens!
Children's Book: A Girl Can Build Anything by E.E. Charlton-Trujillo and Pat Zietlow Miller
Illustrated by Keisha Morris
Have you ever dreamed of building or designing something?
Maybe something like a treehouse or
A Girl Can Build Anything is an inspiring, colorful picture book that reminds children that girls can build anything they imagine. This book is a celebration of all the different ways girls can make things with all forms of building materials. Throughout this book, girls are encouraged to believe in their power to succeed even when the task is difficult. This story empowers girls to take risks, explore, and follow their dreams.
A Girl Can Build Anything has a motivational tone and fosters determination and perseverance. The brightly colored illustrations support the book’s premise, leading the reader to believe that a girl can build anything—because of course she can!
Parent Education Corner: Breaking Down Sentences & Words
Learning how to identify words in sentences and syllables within words helps children understand how to break down the sounds within spoken language. Identifying parts of speech—such as words and syllables— will prepare children to learn about smaller sounds tied to specific letters. These are skills that children can practice even before they have started reading or identifying sounds in words.
The following activities are typically appropriate for children in kindergarten and first grade:
Show children that they can break down sentences into words:
Talk about how to combine two words to form another word and about how some words can be broken into smaller words. The box below shows a conversation about this:
After children can identify words in sentences, they can begin to break words into syllables. Here are two examples of how to model breaking words into syllables:
After using these strategies, have your child practice finding syllables in familiar words, such as their name, siblings' names, and pet names.
Submitted by Kathi Hart, READ USA Lead Content Specialist. From The U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences and The What Works Clearinghouse.
Do you have any questions or ideas for the Parent Education Corner? Anything you’d like to learn? Let us know here!