Reading is Fundamental for Fox Chapel Area volunteers; group impacts childhood literacy

Story-tellers are success-builders, according to a group of Fox Chapel Area residents helping to battle the country’s literary crisis.

Through the simple task of turning pages in a book, the volunteers are helping to build successful foundations for children.

“We are igniting passions,” said Kyle Fahsel, director of mentoring at Reading is Fundamental Pittsburgh.

The program matches adults with students at Pittsburgh Faison elementary school in Homewood to read together for an hour a week.

“It’s important because we provide kids with motivation to develop a love of reading and a mentor that they can trust,” Fahsel said.

Nearly 66% of students across the country can not read at a proficient level by the end of third grade, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Only about 46 % of third graders in Pittsburgh Public Schools are reading on grade level, Fahsel said.

The figures are lower for Black students – 31% — and even lower for English Language Learners – 21%.

“Reading is essential for adult life and strongly correlated with adult outcomes,” Fahsel said. “Students who aren’t reading on grade level by the end of third grade fall further behind and rarely ever catch up.”

The program is uniquely supported by people from the Fox Chapel Area School District communities.

Of nearly 150 volunteers across all schools, 10% hail from the Lower Valley.

Adults are matched with the same student every week. Shyness during the first few sessions melts away quickly and by mid-fall, students are running to their “buddy” and giving them a hug.

“They are making a difference,” Fahsel said. “Our volunteers believe every child deserves to know how to read and to enjoy reading for pleasure and learning.”

Margo Litwin of Fox Chapel serves as the program site coordinator, matching students with a dedicated mentor.

“Everyone finds their buddy and gets one-on-one time,” she said. “Relationships are built up through the year and it’s a joyous environment. The kids don’t have to worry about anything. They are getting the warmth and encouragement they deserve.”

The national program Reading Is Fundamental, located in Washington, D.C., was founded in 1966 and is the oldest children’s literacy organization in the country. Reading is Fundamental Pittsburgh is an independent affiliate founded in 1981.

RIF Pittsburgh’s Everybody Wins! mentoring program runs in four schools: Pittsburgh Faison, Pittsburgh King, Pittsburgh Weil and Manchester Academic Charter School.

Pittsburgh Faison has a large number of Fox Chapel area volunteers who make the short trip across the Highland Park bridge to read with students. One-third of Pittsburgh’s Faison’s 42 mentors hail from the Fox Chapel area.

“These are the learning-to-read years,” Litwin said. “This is the time when kids need some extra support. We try to surround them with support and engage with their families, giving them culturally relevant books that they select and get to take home.”

According to the United Way, 61% of U.S. children living at or below the poverty line have no books at home.

Reading is Fundamental has closed equity gaps by assisting 212 million children across the country, distributing 430 million books and reading resources.

In Pittsburgh, the group has provided more than 80,000 diverse books to more than 16,800 children.

Mentors are sought year-round across several Pittsburgh Public Schools.

“We aren’t tutors, we’re not teaching,” said JoEllen Leech of Fox Chapel. “This can appeal to a broad array of ages. You only need a desire to work with a young child.”

For Fahsel, a former reading teacher for seven years, buddy time is the highlight of his week.

“One of my buddies is a dual language speaker,” Fahsel said. “My Spanish is not great — it’s passable! But it’s enough that I can read with him in Spanish and English as we develop his English reading skills.”

Leech, a lead volunteer recruiter, has participated in the program for a dozen years.

“One of the things I really like is that when the kids come in, because you’ve gotten to know them, you get to help them pick out books that might excite them,” Leech said. “You know if they like ‘Pete the Cat’ or ‘Super Bros.’

“Sometimes they read to you or you read together. Sometimes you act it out like buddies ‘Elephant and Piggie.’ It’s great fun for them.”

Leech said she enjoys building relationships with the children and looks forward to her sessions each week.

“They do too,” she said. “It’s so fun when they run over to you and tell you about their week. I really love watching their skills develop.”