Book Explorers
A reading mentoring program
Book Explorers is a reading mentoring program for first, second, and third graders. The program uses targeted strategies and activities to build literacy skills and confidence. Each book is accompanied by a parent guide full of fun, enriching activities to encourage children and their caregivers to learn together at home and a mentor guide that helps volunteer mentors make the most of their sessions.
The program is designed to support educators and caregivers with a supplementary literacy tool for enrichment or intervention and targets both the “summer slide,” a regression in academic proficiency due to summer break, and other similar learning gaps. Building on the success of our long-running, school-based reading mentoring program, ReadSquad (formerly Teen Trendsetters), Book Explorers can be used alone or in conjunction with the existing program to extend learning year-round.
PARENTS:
supports a parent's critical role as their child’s “first and best teacher”
EDUCATORS:
provides them with evidence based supplementary literacy tools
MENTORS:
offers them volunteer and leadership opportunities
The Barbara Bush Foundation has successfully implemented a variety of program models in Maine, Texas, and Florida including schools, community organizations and municipal park programs. Book Explorers is available to schools and community organizations. Select books and parent guides are accessible to parents and caregivers for free. Learn more about the positive effects of Book Explorers in our Reading Mentoring Programs Impact Report.
For more information or to discuss implementation for your school or organization, please contact bookexplorers@barbarabush.org.
“Book Explorers provided our students with access to a diverse range of books and resources, encouraging them to explore new genres and develop a lifelong love of reading.”
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