Name: Shelbe Vidal
Hometown: New Haven, CT
College and Major: Howard University and Political Science
Tutor Site: Willow Street
Clubs: Movies and Meaning, and Math Club
Favorite Childhood Book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Students deserve the opportunity to build critical life skills such as reading. Interning with New Haven Reads has given me the opportunity to be part of an amazing team and make a positive impact in the New Haven Community. As the notorious literacy crisis runs rampant, the work of New Haven Reads’ is extremely important. New Haven Reads steps in and provides results. As the data has shown, Read’s program is strategic and delivers literacy improvement.
While tutoring over the summer, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many great students. One of my students seemed hesitant when beginning the program. However, she quickly opened up when talking about creating homemade squishies and drawings. I was able to encourage her by highlighting the importance of creativity. At the beginning of her tutoring hours, she now runs to the table and asks, “What are we spelling today?” ready to jump right into learning. While reading a poetry book, we took turns “rapping” the lines. She loved when it was my turn to “rap”, excited by my fluency and flow. I used these moments to show the joy of reading and how all the skills I demonstrated were ones she is building.
At New Haven Reads, the love of reading truly channels through each staff member. The love of reading is infectious. New Haven Reads is comfortable, welcoming, and fun for all community members while simultaneously upholding the seriousness of the mission. In addition to the serious instruction of reading, New Haven Reads is fully committed to holistic support for all students. Each student has the opportunity to feel fully supported and encouraged throughout he process. Everyone from site staff to individual tutor, carefully cultivates an experience that will serve students for a lifetime.
