ReadWriteServe Programs

ReadWriteServe--Partnership for Literacy Action Initiatives brings together UNC Charlotte and community-based resources to address increasingly complex literacy needs of students and their families in the Southeastern U.S. through service, research and community-based programs that are culturally relevant and focused on community needs. More than 1150 UNC Charlotte students and staff have worked with over 1800 K-12 students in the greater Charlotte region in ReadWriteServe programs.

The Goals of ReadWriteServe

1. Work with community partners (schools and agencies) to advance the literacy skills of K-12 students.

2. Involve families in students’ literacy development.

3. Promote community involvement, civic engagement, and service learning among ReadWriteServe stakeholders (students, families, schools, university, & communities).

ReadWriteServe's Student-to-Student Programs bring UNC Charlotte college-students to partner schools and community organizations in the Charlotte region seeks to support and tutor K-12 students. These programs include:

The Urban Youth in Schools Internship is a one-semester internship developed by the Center as part of the First 3 Early Career Teacher Support program in the College of Education at UNC Charlotte. Interns serve 80 hours in urban schools to support the academic, extracurricular, social, and community needs of the schools.

America Reads pairs work-study eligible college students with 2-4 elementary school students in a school for literacy tutoring. Tutors receive substantial initial training and ongoing support to tutor struggling students in reading and writing. Local partners include CMS and Cabarrus County Schools.

America Counts tutors work with elementary and middle-level students on a range of math skills. Tutors typically work one-on-one with students to improve their learning of mathematical concepts.

Literacy PALS (Partners Achieving Literacy Success) is a a volunteer tutoring program that connects individuals and groups of UNC Charlotte students, faculty and staff with schools and community organizations. College students from honor societies, social and service organizations tutor and mentor grades 3-12 students. Local partners include the University City Regional Library, Charlotte-Mecklenburg (CMS) and Cabarrus County schools.

Literacy for Democracy (LFD) works in economically disadvantaged communities to improve children and adolescents’ literacy and academic achievement through service learning with university pre-service and in-service teachers. Partners include Charlotte Mecklenburg, Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City Schools as well as Freedom School Partners, Inc.

ReadWriteServe's School & Community Support Programs brings UNC Charlotte's expertise in literacy to schools, families and communities. These programs, which are under development, include:

The Community Volunteer Tutor Training Program (CVTT) brings expertise developed at UNC Charlotte in its work with literacy tutoring programs and seeks to share that with existing volunteer program that work with K-12 students. Under development, CVTT will provide tutor training to schools, community and faith-based organizations that have existing groups of volunteers.

Need help in tutoring? Check out the ReadWriteServe Tutoring website where you will find a wealth of resources for tutoring K-12 students.