Open Books :: Open Books Buddies

Download the Open Books Buddies brochure!

My favorite moment from this past semester with Book Buddies happened on the last day I read with one of my Buddies and he was able to finish a whole book by himself. Other than this being a huge achievement for this particular student, the first time I read this particular book with him at the beginning of the semester, he wasn't even able to read half the book by himself. Knowing that I was able to see him progress through the book was a special moment for me.

- Kelly Z., Open Books Buddy

Open Books is truly a rewarding experience. No matter what is going on in your day, week or your life it is all forgotten when you see the faces of your little Buddies waiting for you when you walk down the hall.

- Mitch F., Open Books Buddy

One of the best indications I had of how much confidence one of my Reading Buddies had gained was when she decided that it was her turn to teach me. So she flashed the cards, pronounced carefully if I wasn't precise, and encouraged me with a 'that's GOOD' at appropriate intervals. Best way to learn is to teach something you know!

- Ann A., Open Books Buddy

It was great to spend quality one-on-one time reading with my Buddies at Schiller and see their response to the opportunity; one of them told me "I've been waiting for this all week." I could not put it better myself.

- Steve T., Open Books Buddy

If reading is an important part of your life, it feels very
gratifying to be able to share this passion with somebody else, especially somebody who is still at an age so susceptible to influence. What I love about the program is that it promotes literacy but in an informal manner that's always focused on positive reinforcement and play-based methodology. It strives to equate reading with fun, and if one is to judge the approach by the smiles of the kids then it's definitely doing just that!

- Beata D. Open Books Buddy

This year has been a huge year for our school because of what Open Books has given to our children. Each Monday, you visit and the volunteers read and listen to our children read to them. The students look forward to Mondays. We do not have adults who are available to be "reading buddies" to our children. Our school has been deeply touched and enriched by the programs and experiences you have given us. You have been an important part of a partnership that has been on the scene making a positive impact for children who would otherwise not have the opportunities to work with committed adults outside of their classrooms.

Barbara Kargas, Principal, Goethe School

Since October of 2008, some of our most economically disadvantaged families have been able to benefit from the homework help and reading assistance that the Reading Buddies volunteers provide. One of our students recently made a thank you note for her buddy: "Thanks for volunteering! Thank you for helping us! You are the best! We hope you come back next year!" While simple, this note struck me. Our students need steady, committed adults in their lives. Open Books helps us expand this circle of committed adults for our students while helping them increase their reading skills. I truly believe that this is what quality programming is all about.

Kate Cichon, Program Manager, Perspectives Charter School

The students I work with lag somewhat behind their classmates in reading ability and I am not sure that they get enough much needed individual attention in the classroom. Whenever they struggle with a word, I am ready to provide encouragement and support. As a result, my buddies have become more competent and confident readers.Perhaps as important are the relationships I have developed with the students. After talking with them, I’ve learned that their circumstances do not afford much interaction with positive role models. I’d like to think that through my time with them each week, the students gain a trusted friend who can offer valuable life lessons and broaden their perspectives.

Marko D., Open Books Buddy

Last year I read with a little girl who didn’t seem to be all that interested in what we were doing. So I was very happy to have her recognize my face in September & seek me out to read with her every Friday. She has retained the phonics we worked on last year, and is becoming a reasonable reader for her grade level. The value and significance of Open Books programs goes far beyond personal experience and the important but ultimately mechanical skill of being able to read. With reading & literacy, basis for communicating, advancing one’s intellectual life, being able to express oneself, comprehending a world larger than oneself—all of the factors so essential to the fully realized human being—how in the name of wisdom can we doubt the value of the programs that Open Books so creatively makes available to those who might otherwise fall behind?

Ann A., Open Books Buddy

Open Books Buddies is simple and fun! Adult volunteers and elementary school students experience the joy of reading together each week at schools around Chicagoland. The Big Buddy's job is to be a friend and role model whose love of books is contagious and maybe even life-changing for the Little Buddy. Adults listen enthusiastically as students read aloud, take turns reading when a child has her heart set on a tough book, show ways to figure out unknown words, and model expressive reading. (Silly or dramatic voices are highly encouraged!)

Want to volunteer as a
Reading Buddy? Great!
To learn more and get involved, fill out our volunteer form and sign up for an orientation!

Welcome to the wonderful world of Open Books! We would love to bring our reading mentor program, Open Books Buddies, to your campus in the 2009-10 school year. This year Buddies provided more than 5,000 hours of reading practice and support to students in 10 Chicagoland schools. Please read on for all the details on how it works and how to apply.

What Is Open Books Buddies?

Open Books Buddies is a weekly one-hour program that allows students to work one-on-one with a trained, supportive mentor to help boost reading skills such as fluency and comprehension. Mentors also promote school attendance, academic performance, positive behaviors, and more.

Each week, a Big Buddy and a Little Buddy pair will read together in 30-minute segments. This allows each volunteer mentor to work with two students over the course of the academic year.

The Big Buddy’s job is to be a coach and role model whose love of books is contagious and maybe even life-changing for the Little Buddy. Adults listen enthusiastically as students read aloud, take turns reading when a child has her heart set on a tough book, show ways to figure out unknown words, and model expressive reading. (Silly or dramatic voices are highly encouraged!)

Open Books also provides new books for students to keep and resources for schools and teachers.

Why Is Open Books Buddies needed?

One-on-one reading and discussion are key to a child’s learning and development. But 61% of low-income families have no children’s books at home and 37% of adults in Chicago could not read a kid’s book to a child if they had one. In Chicagoland classrooms, a teacher may rarely or never get time to read one-on-one with each of 30+ students. The Open Books Buddies program directly addresses those challenges by providing fun, caring readers and engaging, unforgettable books where they are needed most. Studies show students who receive one-on-one reading help significantly outperform their peers on comprehension, word recognition, reading accuracy, and spelling.

How Does Open Books Buddies Work?

Schedule: The Buddies program may be held during lunchtime (approx. 12 noon – 1 p.m.) or after school, depending on the partner school’s needs.

Students: Open Books Buddies is available to students in grades 2 and up, and each site includes an average of 20 students. If the program is conducted during school hours, students can be pulled from one teacher’s class or up to four classes.

Site Leaders: Each school is assigned an Open Books site leader, who receives an intensive training before the school year begins and maintains regular communication with volunteers, teachers, administrators, and Open Books directors.

Big Buddies: All volunteers have an on-site orientation at Open Books, sign on for a minimum of one semester to ensure a committed relationship with their students, and submit to a background and ID check.

Open Books Provides...

- The Buddies program includes colorful Open Books buttons for every student and volunteer, as well as folders and reading logs which pairs use to chart reading progress and share success stories as well as concerns about vision, hearing, or learning disabilities with teachers and administrators.

- Each Little Buddy receives a minimum of five new books over the course of the semester to read and keep. Little buddies "earn" each book by reading it aloud to their big buddies for three weeks in a row.

- Open Books Buddies is designed to support and aid teachers by giving one-on-one reading practice to students who need the most help. But if conducted during the school day, the program also provides teachers precious time for differentiated instruction for higher readers while struggling readers are spending time with their Open Books mentors.

- Open Books offers a special orientation for teachers and administrators at the beginning of the school year, in which educators will learn about the spectrum of resources available to participating schools. Food, drinks, and resource materials will be provided.

Partner Schools Must Provide...

- A room that is conducive to reading. (Libraries or empty classrooms work best!)

- Access to books on participating students’ reading levels.

- A coordinating teacher or administrator who will attend the orientation and communicate with Open Books via e-mail and phone during the school year.

- A commitment to avoid scheduling field trips, assemblies, and special events during the Open Books Buddies time, whenever possible. If a schedule conflict arises, the coordinating faculty member should inform the Open Books site leader immediately.

Why You Should Bring Open Books Buddies To Your Campus

Becoming an Open Books partner school means more than just the Buddies program!

- Partner schools receive an extra 10% discount at the Open Books store.

- Open Books helps connect a variety of outstanding literacy partners with Buddies campuses.

- During the 2008-2009 school year, Open Books donated thousands of additional new and used books to Buddies campuses.

- Open Books has conducted end-of-year read-a-thons for Buddies campuses, provided incentives and rewards for participants, welcomed classes for creative writing workshops at our office, helped families get library cards, and MUCH MORE!

Cost of Open Books Buddies

Open Books commits to covering the majority of the costs for each Open Books Buddies site. For a full academic year of Open Books Buddies programming, schools are asked to contribute a stipend of $2,500 (less than 30% of the actual program cost) to cover the remainder.

Value: With an average of 20 students participating and 26 sessions, schools end up contributing about $4 per session per student. By comparison, tutors in Chicago charge $30-$60 an hour. The 5+ new books for each student and the many additional resources provided make Open Books Buddies an unbeatable value!

Want to see what Open Books Buddies looks like?
Check out our Buddies Photo Sets!

To find out more and start applying to have Open Books Buddies at your school or campus, please complete the form below! A member of the Open Books team will be in touch shortly.