Some of the best teachers are under ten years old! They are the children who teach a love of books and reading to younger children at weekly Reading Circles. Some Reading Circle programs are challenged because the children greatly outnumber the parents and other volunteers. If more children have reading partners, there will be a lot more enjoyment, and a lot more learning!

How do we keep all the children interested?

• Give older children responsibilities. Ask them to help to arrange the chairs, to set up the books, or hand out the name tags.
• Encourage older children to read with younger children.
• Children love an audience. Older children like to show that they know how to read!

How can adults encourage the reading partner system?

• By reading with children, adults and volunteers are being role models.
• Older children observe how adults are patient and encouraging to the younger children.
• Children will follow by example, and pass on their enthusiasm for reading.

How can the older children be rewarded for being reading partners?

• Reward them with certificates and prize-books.
• Make the presentations significant by reading the certificates aloud: “It is our pleasure to present this award to Omar, for helping the younger children with their reading. This is a certificate of merit; a special award for demonstrating excellent skills as a reading partner. Congratulations, Omar. Keep up the good work!”

If you give older children responsibility and praise, you will find more of them helping the younger children. You want all the children who attend the Reading Circle to feel included. If older children are reading partners, the parents and volunteers will have a lot more freedom to manage the program, and to read with the children who need extra attention.

Parents: Encourage your older children to be reading partners for their younger brothers and sisters at home!