Jóvenes Leyendo Juntos
Goals
The Spanish literacy “Jóvenes Leyendo Juntos” program aims to:
-
Build Spanish literacy for children whose family/first language is Spanish
-
Engage EYL youth as teachers for their younger siblings, cousins, and neighbors
-
Provide tutoring and mentorship for Latinx children by older youth from a similar background
-
Celebrate bilingualism/multilingualism, culture, and literacy
About
Through weekly literacy lessons and tutoring sessions, EYL youth will teach, mentor, and support their younger siblings, cousins, neighbors, and other children—nurturing the joyful and healthy development of bilingualism and Spanish literacy. Younger children will build motivation and skills to read and write in both Spanish and English while forming strong bonds with older youth “hermanos” they can admire and trust. This intergenerational connection fosters a deep, long-term commitment to education and personal growth. As mentors and role models, youth will not only uplift others but also strengthen their own dedication to learning and become agents of positive change in their communities.
How we do it
Children and youth will engage in regular interactions that promote literacy and celebrate bilingualism and culture.
-
Children will participate in weekly or biweekly tutoring sessions or literacy lessons led by older youth mentors.
-
Youth will attend weekly sessions to prepare their lessons, reflect on their teaching experiences, and track the progress of the children they support. They will also lead weekly or biweekly tutoring and literacy sessions, building their own leadership and communication skills while fostering a love of learning in younger participants.
