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NC VIPS

Training and Materials

No training is required to be a Reading Buddy. But in response to volunteer requests, those that want to learn more about reading concepts and helpful literacy tools now have two options available to them.

Reading Universe ParaReading

Brand new for this year, NC VIPS has partnered with Reading Universe to pilot the first three modules of its free self-paced ParaReading training designed to enhance the ability of those without a teaching degree. 

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Reading Buddy Toolbox

The Reading Buddy Toolbox is a curated listing of NC VIPS provided materials of and instructions on how to use them. They are a great resource to supplement teacher assignments. These materials are located in the area where volunteers work.

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​​Reading Universe ParaReading

Reading Universe is a free evidence-based online platform that provides literacy training, example videos, and teaching tools. It was developed by WETA, First Book, and the Barksdale Reading Institute (BRI). The three modules we are recommending cover phoneme awareness, phonics, and fluency complete with downloadable certificates upon each module's completion.

Kindergarten Volunteers
Module 1 - Phoneme Awareness

Phonemes are the smallest sounds used in our language. Once children learn to break apart these sounds in a word, then they can start to associate them with letters in words. Phoneme awareness will help your students become readers!

Sign Up Phonemes

First or Second Grade Volunteers
​Module 2 -Phonics

Until students can read, every word is a coded puzzle. Teachers help students crack the code through phonics instruction — that is, direct and explicit teaching of how the letters of the alphabet represent the sounds of language.


This phonics course offers expert strategies, videos, and explanations to help you put students on the path to skilled reading!

Sign Up Phonics

Module 3 -Fluency

Reading fluency is the ability to read accurately, automatically, and with appropriate expression.  


Available this Fall

 ​Reading Buddy Toolbox

As volunteers, we always take our assignments from our assigned teachers. We've put together this toolbox at your school to augment and provide context to those assignments.
 Check Out All of the Toolbox Videos Here

 ●Magnetic Letter Tray
●Dry Erase Board with 2 Markers and an Eraser
    
 

There are 4 kits:

  1. CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant)
  2. Digraphs (two letters for 1 sound, th)
  3. Blends (two letters and you hear both letters, bl)
  4. Magic e (kite, silent e makes the i say its name)


In each kit are a series of instructions on what letters to remove from the magnet tray and what words the student is to make with those letters.

This activity teaches students how to monitor for a visual and auditory match.  The sounds the student hears in a word match the letters they see!

It also teaches left to right visual scanning across a word 

video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0PPFjjO_W4

Making Words with Skill Kits


 

ACTIVITY BINDERS - KINDERGARTEN, 1ST & 2ND GRADES

There are multiple activities in each, complete with instructions.  More activities will be added as the year progresses.

For instance, an activity called Secret CVC Words can be for both 1st and 2nd grades. The student looks at the image and determines the first letter of that object. 

Gum, so g, elephant so e, tongue so t.  The CVC word is get.

An example for Kindergarten is Beginning Sounds.  The student will look at the picture and match magnetic letters from the tray to the appropriate picture representing that beginning sound. There are additional activities detailed in the directions.

In all cases, the goal is to have fun with your students as they learn new skills!

Games to Play Using the Toolbox