Literacy Society of the North Okanagan

Reading together: about 120 volunteers are trained and assigned to elementary schools (about 11) to read one to one with approximately 275 students grade 1-4 who need extra reading support. Since covid the program's initiative is to rebuild the volunteer pool and focus on recruitment and training in order to serve more students. Thus far since the previous year progress continues on an upward trajectory. Skills boost tutoring program: facilitators and volunteers provide small-group support to students needing extra help during out of school hours. In 2024 emphasis was placed on small-group project-based learning utilizing the support of more volunteers in an attempt to meet the needs of more students struggling with reading and numeracy. Family home kits were developed and made available under resourced families to support at home learning. Adult computer support: volunteers work one to one with adults who need help with their technical devices such as laptops phones or tablets. Small group workshops provide specific device support - i.e. Ipad tablets. In 2024 emphasis was placed on continuing volunteer recruitment to expand individual support the number of locations where support is available and provide a number of small-group workshops are planned with adults to improve their ability to connect to services and/or employment. Books for babies and kindies: in partnership with local health unit babies are provided a new book and parent information at time of immunization and again when entering kindergarten. Over 500 kits are prepared and distributed to the health unit and early years partner agencies.