The Little Red School House Museum is now a living, breathing, vital part of East Ramapo Central School District that houses the office of an exciting and important new program: VISION.

• VISION volunteers spend one half hour, once per week, reading with one child at a time throughout the school year.
• Volunteers help youngsters achieve early literacy, love of reading, higher levels of educational achievements, and the power of knowledge that transforms lives.
• Being a VISION volunteer is a rewarding and enriching experience.
• VISION volunteers receive training and on going support.

To become a VISION Volunteer, or to find out more about this outstanding program, please call Martha Lerner-Iglody, VISION Coordinator, at 845-577-6167.

About VISION...
Meetings, interviews, training sessions, workshops, story hours, and receptions are now being held amid the backdrop of this historic one-room schoolhouse. In addition, East Ramapo's 4th grade students are now visiting the museum as part of their curriculum in learning about New York and local history.

From the glimmer of an idea to a wonderfully successful district-wide program, VISION is providing identified primary-level youngsters with one-on-one reading experiences which are helping bring them to a better place: early literacy, love of reading, higher levels of educational achievement, and the power of having and acquiring knowledge that transforms lives.

VISION volunteers spend one-half hour, once a week, reading with one primary-level (K-3) child at a time. To ensure that in-class instructional time is not lost, a volunteer generally reads with his or her designated youngster before or after school or during lunch. Volunteers receive training and ongoing support.

Working with youngsters involves not simply a willingness to help, but a commitment to personal training, year-long reading sessions, connecting, and, perhaps most important, knowing that a significant part of shaping a child's future is in their hands.

That explains, in large measure, why the program is growing: In light of more challenging standards, there is a clear need to identify youngsters who are or may be at risk at the very earliest stages. Residents of all ages and walks of life have a very personal desire to give back to their community. Many are parents; some are retired teachers. Senior citizens, long-time educational activists, business people with flexible schedules, college students, even East Ramapo Board trustees and staff members freely and joyfully offer their services. Why? Perhaps the simplest explanation is: VISION works for all!

To become a VISION Volunteer, or to find out more about this outstanding program, please call Martha Lerner-Iglody, VISION Coordinator, at 845-577-6167.