Book Buddies (in-person)

The SFU Surrey – TD Community Engagement Centre has partnered with the Surrey School District Community School’s Partnership Department and the READ Surrey White Rock Society to develop and implement a one-on-one reading program, the Book Buddies Program, with funding from Decoda Literacy’s Fostering Literacy Grant and the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation.

This program supports approximately 8-12 children in grades 2-4, as research shows that strong early reading skills are a predictor of future academic success. The goal for this program is not only to support learners to read at their grade-level, but even more importantly to foster a love for reading, and to encourage children to become lifelong readers.

The activities focus on making reading fun, and developing confidence and motivation to read. Learners are guided through reading exercises that focus on the following keys to reading success: Phonemic awareness, Phonics, Developing Vocabulary and Sight Word banks, Reading Comprehension, and Fluency. Book Buddies also includes a focus on family literacy and empowering parents to support their child’s reading journey from home.