Volunteer to help kids learn to love reading in Bed-Stuy or Fort Greene

Behind_the_Book

Behind the Book is a non-profit organization that inspires NYC public school students to love reading. We bring accomplished authors into classrooms in underserved communities, where they lead workshops that guide students in creating their own writing and art projects based on the theme of the author's book. Our programs, which are part of the class curricula and adhere to Common Core standards, have a proven record of motivating students to read while improving literacy skills.

No experience or training is necessary to volunteer. For these fun and creative programs at CS 21 on Chauncey Street and PS 46 on Clermont Avenue, you'll encourage and support first-graders as they write, or help pre-K kids create artwork.

Sign up to volunteer for any of these four sessions by emailing [email protected].

Program 46SA5
Wednesday, May 20th – 8:50 – 10:00 AM (author visit)
Thursday, May 28th – 12:30 – 2:00 pm (art workshop)
Author: Selina Alko
Book: B is for Brooklyn
School: PS 46, Fort Greene
Pre-K students will read Selina’s alphabet book about places and things in Brooklyn, then create their own class alphabet book about animals.

Program 21LCR5
Wednesday, May 27th - 12:05 - 1:05 PM AND 1:15 - 2:15 PM
Author: Lesa Cline-Ransome
Book: Quilt Alphabet
School: CS 21, Bed-Stuy
First-graders will read Lesa’s alphabet poems about things found in the countryside. Students will then choose a special object from home or school to write their own descriptive poem. The objects will also be the inspiration for the construction of their own quilt square. All the squares will be combined to create a class quilt.

Program 21RW5
Thursday, May 28th - 8:50 -10:00 AM AND 10:05 -11:15 AM
Author: Renee Watson
Book: Harlem's Little Blackbird
School: CS 21, Bed-Stuy
First-grade students will read Renee's compelling biographical book about Florence Mills and her human rights activism. They’ll each write a persuasive piece about a need in their own community that they’ve identified, and how to make change for the better.