How will the program be implemented?
Each LPP high school student will meet with an elementary school child (1st or 2nd grade) once each week for 30 minutes. During the session, which will take place immediately after school, the LPP student will take turns reading and being read to from an appropriate book. LPP students will either walk or take the school bus to their local elementary school where the program is being conducted.  After the program session, LPP students will either walk or take the late bus home. 

What are the Benefits of the Program?
The benefits of the program to LPP students are anticipated to be twofold: 1) by reading and engaging in the activity of reading, it is expected that LPP students will enhance their own reading abilities and overall academic motivation and achievement; and 2) their sense of self-esteem will be enhanced by engaging in this peer mentoring/community service activity. Elementary students are expected to develop a greater appreciation of reading and enjoy a "mentor" experience.

Incentives
After every four sessions the elementary school students will receive a book to keep. The students will then be able to expand their own home library and continue reading for fun.
Books have been donated from:

American Booksellers Association
Harper Collins Publishers
Houghton Mifflin Company
Random House, Inc.
Waldenbooks
Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Additionally, all participating LPP students who complete the program will receive a letter of recommendation which can be used when applying to colleges or for employment opportunities. 

If you have questions or require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Ruth Redlener, Director, or LPP READS Coordinator:  Jeanette Lukas, Social Work Intern Hofstra University Liberty Partnerships Program at (516) 463-5309/5793.

Hofstra University LPP Info Line: (516) 463-5309