Voices from the Field

The AfterSchool KidzLit program is currently being implemented across the country.

Here’s what people are saying:

Meeting Kids’ Needs and Fitting Site's Goals

AfterSchool KidzLit really meets kids’ needs for fun, hands-on activities, and fits our goals for improving kids’ reading and literacy skills. AfterSchool KidzLit materials save so much planning time without sacrificing quality.

— Abby Rovner, Director, I Have a Dream Foundation, San Francisco, CA

Turning Parent Evenings into Family Literacy Nights

We love AfterSchool KidzLit. It offers so many activities to use in different ways, and the stories really stay with you. Our parent evenings have turned into family literacy nights because the kids do projects from the books and present them to their parents.

— Melissa Lamberts, Program Director, Northeast YMCA, San Antonio, TX

A Treasure—Developed Specifically for Out-of-school Time

English development, and it’s perfect for the hands-on way we want to teach. Since the things we typically use are from the PE department or elementary ed, a program developed just for before and after school is really a treasure.

— Simon Lee, Site Director, B.A.S.I.C. Afterschool Program, San Francisco, CA

Providing a Reading Lesson Plan for After-School Personnel

My job involves going to the sites and training the after-school personnel in reading strategies. I’ve found that AfterSchool KidzLit is extremely user friendly. For people who are not comfortable with teaching, it’s a lesson plan all made out for them. It’s extremely well organized, it takes one step at a time—and it’s working out very well.

— Gloria Allin, After School Reads Coordinator, Literacy Coalition,
Palm Beach County, FL

A Great Match for YMCAs

AfterSchool KidzLit is a great match for YMCAs because it’s so consistent with our mission. It promotes the Y’s core competencies—literacy, character development, arts and humanities, service learning, and healthy lifestyles.

— Barb Taylor, Senior Consultant for Program Development, YMCA of the USA

Amazing Tools

The tools we derive from AfterSchool KidzLit are just amazing. The children get a chance to talk about their feelings and get a chance to experiment with thoughts and ideas. They get to act. They get to cook. They get to play. And they get to enjoy great literature.

— Nancy Blair, Kids’ Zone, Livermore, CA