This past month I have had the pleasure of working on a nationally recognized program Dive Into Reading. This program was designed to promote grade-level reading and combat any "summer reading slide" that may occur. It was launched in 2017 by Anna Maria Oyster Bar owners, John and Amanda Horne, and has been expanded quickly throughout Manatee and Sarasota Counties. Dive Into Reading has been designed to bring mentors and students together for a couple of hours each week at a restaurant or another appropriate location for a meal to practice their table manners and to work on their literacy skills.
I believe someone said once, "It takes a village to raise a child," and the organizers of this program have taken that to heart. From the restaurants providing both food and wait staff to the hundreds of mentor volunteers that give of their time to work with students each week. However, there are those behind the scenes working to make sure that each site has what they needed, students are exposed to quality grade level text, and organizations that have donated books and school supplies for each student. Huge shout outs go to: Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Geckos, Pier 22, The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, Manatee County's Library Services, Patterson Foundation, Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, Elks Club of Manatee, and of course our volunteers. I feel it was an honor each week to witness each mentor and a student floursih and most importatly an apprecitation of literature being fostered.
I believe someone said once, "It takes a village to raise a child," and the organizers of this program have taken that to heart. From the restaurants providing both food and wait staff to the hundreds of mentor volunteers that give of their time to work with students each week. However, there are those behind the scenes working to make sure that each site has what they needed, students are exposed to quality grade level text, and organizations that have donated books and school supplies for each student. Huge shout outs go to: Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Geckos, Pier 22, The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, Manatee County's Library Services, Patterson Foundation, Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, Elks Club of Manatee, and of course our volunteers. I feel it was an honor each week to witness each mentor and a student floursih and most importatly an apprecitation of literature being fostered.
