There’s a special magic that occurs when older and younger students curl up with a book open between them. Grade 5 and Kindergarten Reading Buddies have been enjoying the benefits of a shared joyful reading time. For the Kindergartners, hearing a confident reader model expression and fluency makes reading feel exciting and achievable. 

 

The benefits work both ways, too. Reading to a younger buddy builds confidence, leadership, patience, and empathy. They practice reading with expression, learn how to explain tricky words, and discover what it means to be someone a younger student looks up to.

 

Most of all, these moments build connection. Kindergarten students see who they’ll one day become, and older students remember just how far they’ve come.