When Elizabeth retired, she knew she wanted to give back—and tutoring felt like the right fit. In fall 2020 she was matched with a kindergartner at Kernersville Elementary through Reading Warriors. Six years later, Elizabeth is still showing up.
Using the curriculum and reading materials provided by Love Literacy and Reading Warriors, Elizabeth has guided her student step by step, from letter sounds to fifth-grade concepts and texts. But she will tell you the relationship has always been about more than the lessons.
“I think of myself as a teacher and mentor,” she says. “I listen. I strive to instill a love for learning that hopefully will stay with him throughout his school years and throughout life.”
She encourages strong academic habits, celebrates his successes, and seeks out books on topics he loves—books he gets to take home. That detail matters more than it might seem. Having his own books fueled his excitement about reading in a way that stuck.
Over time, Elizabeth has seen his confidence grow. Quietly, steadily, and then all at once. Earlier this year, when his fifth-grade class toured the middle school, he came home apprehensive. But when Elizabeth saw him later that week, the nerves had given way to excitement.
“It has dawned on him that he has mastered the experience of elementary school and is ready for middle school.”
The learning, it turns out, goes both ways.
“I’ve learned about resilience in the face of adversity, and I’ve learned that children can find joy in so many ways that can help mitigate overwhelming odds. My student delights in telling me about the antics of his younger brothers and sisters and says he reads to them at home. I am privileged to witness the joy he feels.”
For Elizabeth, the work is both deeply personal and part of something bigger.
“Every child deserves an equal chance for an education that prepares them for success in the future. I applaud teachers who work hard to achieve that goal every day, and I appreciate and support organizations like Love Literacy that recognize children benefit from extra help and care.”
In His Own Words:
“Reading feels easier. The books I’ve read this year are entertaining and fun, and I learn new things.”
“I like our time together because I learn more about the things that confused me in class. I can ask more questions and understand better.”
“I’m proud of doing well in reading. My teacher told us in January that I did well on my reading test scores! And I’m proud of learning math — it’s easier because you only think about numbers and the problem. There isn’t a language difficulty when you work with numbers.”
— Love Literacy Student & 5th Grader at Kernersville Elementary