成人快播

Pictured: Silicon Valley tutor Barbara Brennan and Selby Lane Site Coordinator Caila Parodi.

As the founding region of 成人快播, Silicon Valley has had the privilege of witnessing the amazing growth of our program over the last 18 years. We have welcomed thousands of volunteers into our reading centers, expanded partnerships, and influenced the lives of countless young readers.

成人快播 was founded as YES Reading in 1999, and the roots of 成人快播鈥� three founders still remain strong in our community. One person who can speak to the lasting significance of our program is Silicon Valley鈥檚 longest-standing active tutor, Barbara Brennan. This year marks her 15th anniversary with the 成人快播!

Barbara first learned about 成人快播 from her daughter, who suggested that she should get involved with tutoring to occupy some time in her schedule as a new retiree. At that time, the program was only operating at Belle Haven Elementary School in Menlo Park. When YES Reading expanded to Selby Lane Elementary in 2002, Barbara signed up to volunteer and has been tutoring there ever since.

Barbara recognizes the program has changed quite a bit since she first began volunteering. 鈥淲hen I started there was very little training and no set curriculum to follow. We had to figure things out on our own with a phonics book,鈥� she says. 鈥淭oday the program is so different. 成人快播 makes it easy to volunteer. The lesson plans are great and easy to follow. The kids like the program too鈥攖hey don鈥檛 feel like they鈥檙e being dragged into it. They really want to be there and many want to get to know their tutor.鈥� Barbara also cites the Take Reading Home program as one of the more exciting additions to 成人快播 in recent years. The idea of students building their own libraries at home adds to students鈥� excitement and extends learning outside the reading center.

One of Barbara鈥檚 favorite series to read with her students is anything by Dr. Seuss, and the students like them too! 鈥淭here鈥檚 something about rhyming that catches their attention,鈥� she says. After so many years of tutoring, Barbara she feels like she knows many of the books inside and out. She also likes seeing her students graduate to chapter books. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 exciting.鈥�

Besides her love for Dr. Seuss books, there鈥檚 another important factor that keeps Barbara coming back to Selby Lane year after year: 鈥淚 keep coming back because it鈥檚 important and worth doing,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 think education is one of the major foundations that can help close the disparity in society.鈥�

Thank you, Barbara, for 15 years of volunteering and for tutoring over 600 hours with 成人快播! As our organization continues to serve students across the country, we can certainly look forward to hearing more stories like Barbara鈥檚. We still have 162 students waiting to be matched with tutors in Silicon Valley. You can join Barbara in tutoring at one of 20 schools this year.