Imagination, wonder and enthusiasm…these are just a few of the qualities Motiva volunteers are hoping to bring out in each of the 200 kindergarteners at New Sarpy Kindergarten Center when they visit the school each month to share books with the students.
“The students get really excited when a Motiva Reader arrives,” explained a New Sarpy staff member. “It’s primarily due to the volunteers’ ability to bring the books and the characters inside of them to life.”
Volunteers move from class to class throughout the term, getting to know faces and personalities along the way. “The students are full of questions, even if it’s not always about the book,” Liz Deroche a Motiva Reader said.
“I like it when someone new reads to us,” one smiling kindergartener said.
In December Santa Claus visits, and a volunteer reads The Cajun Night Before Christmas. For the past two years, Motiva’s own A.J. James has regaled students and teachers alike with his Cajun accent. Having someone read to them enhances the student’s listening and comprehension skills, but volunteers say they reap the greatest reward in seeing the children’s reactions.
“Knowing you may have touched a young life in some small way is inspiring,” said Motiva volunteer Gina Simon. The focus of the reading program is to encourage students to read more and to enhance the skills that are already part of the learning process.
A solicitation for volunteers is made at the beginning of each new school year. Volunteers participate based upon their work schedules.
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