Reviewed by: Callie Morrison
How one UAB med student is changing the lives of local students by reading books
Reading time: 4 minutes
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Getting lost in the pages of a good book is a wonderful way to pass the time, but the ability to read is also crucial for success in school and everyday life.
STAIR of Birmingham has an incredible group of volunteer tutors leading local students to literacy success. We caught up with one of these inspiring volunteers to hear about her experience guiding children on their reading journey and how you can join the effort.
Helping local students on their reading journey with STAIR of Birmingham
Megan Saalwaechter has been a voracious reader since childhood, a love she spent alongside her grandmother choosing book after book to enjoy together.
Currently a med student at UAB, Megan wanted to pursue her career while also finding time to work with kids in education. The trick was finding a way to do it that would fit into her busy school schedule.
When she learned about STAIR of Birmingham’s volunteer tutoring program, she knew it was the perfect opportunity.
“STAIR allowed me to have impactful, consistent volunteering while fitting into my schedule.
It also provides a meaningful way to give back to the community. You get to be a positive influence and make a real difference in the life of the student you work with.”
Megan Saalwaechter, volunteer tutor, STAIR of Birmingham
About STAIR of Birmingham
If you don’t know much about STAIR of Birmingham, it’s a childhood literacy nonprofit in Birmingham that trains volunteer tutors to partner with 1st and 2nd-grade students to help them improve their literacy skills.
I recently got to sit in on a STAIR tutoring session at Oliver Elementary, and I was really impressed. Not only were the kids super sweet, but they were as eager to learn as volunteer tutors were to teach them.
Here are a few things I learned about the program while I was there:
- Anyone can be a STAIR volunteer. All that’s needed is the ability to read and a willingness to partner with one local student for a school semester.
- An hour is all it takes—each volunteer is paired with a student who they meet with once or twice a week for 60 minutes.
- Tutoring sessions take place at 12 different sites across Birmingham, Monday through Thursday, between 3:00PM and 4:45PM.
- During each tutoring session, volunteers are provided an easy-to-follow scripted curriculum that includes fun activities that help build the student’s reading + comprehension skills, such as practicing sight words and building sentence.
- Students also get to choose a book to read aloud with their tutor.
STAIR of Birmingham’s impact on local students + volunteers
Megan is now in her second year as a volunteer tutor with STAIR of Birmingham where she’s worked with Aubrey, a reading rockstar at Oliver Elementary.
“It’s been really special to see Aubrey get excited about picking out a book to read each session and seeing how much her reading improves each week.”
Megan Saalwaechter, volunteer tutor, STAIR of Birmingham
What’s Megan’s biggest takeaway from her experience as a volunteer?
“The relationship I’ve built with my student. Being a consistent present for her through STAIR, watching her improve her reading skills and seeing her excitement about books hasn’t just had a positive impact on her life, but on my life as well.”
Megan Saalwaechter, volunteer tutor, STAIR of Birmingham
How you can become a STAIR of Birmingham volunteer
If you love what you’ve learned about STAIR of Birmingham, it’s easy to become a volunteer.
To sign up to be a STAIR of Birmingham volunteer, fill out this application.
After you submit your application, you’ll receive important next steps via email, including:
- Training session details
- Background check consent form
- Orientation details
Ready to start your reading adventure with STAIR of Birmingham? Applications are being accepted for the 2024-2025 school year now through January 17, 2025—submit yours today.
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