Interning with the University of Maryland's Chapter of America Reads

By Eva Sanchez, Justice and Legal Thought

I knew being an America Reads mentor I would be able to help children with learning disabilities similar to my brother with the patience in teaching that I had learned from my mother.

This past semester I interned with the University of Maryland’s chapter of the America Reads program. The America Reads, America Counts, Partners in Print programs are nationwide set up by former President Bill Clinton as an education initiative. I knew for my Scholar’s Capstone I wanted to do an internship, but I didn’t know what internship I wanted to do. One day I was in STAMP and I saw a poster to become an America Reads Mentor. So I looked it up. My mother is a teacher, and after her long days of work she would always come home and practically homeschool my brother who is dyslexic and has learning disabilities. She always inspired me and I knew being an America Reads mentor I would be able to help children with learning disabilities similar to my brother with the patience in teaching that I had learned from my mother.

Working with America Reads was one of the best experiences I’ve had.

Working with America Reads was one of the best experiences I’ve had. Every Monday and Wednesday I was so excited to see my mentee’s and to teach them. By the second week I felt connected to all of my students, and I felt like I now understood their learning styles, and interests. The America Reads program seeks to help students at Title I schools who are struggling in reading. Being in Prince George’s County, the America Reads program at UMD serves almost all the public elementary schools. With a high immigrant population, a high percentage of the mentee’s are English language learners, or have parents who don’t speak English and cannot help them with their work at home. This is where the AR program comes in, and mentors these kids so that they won’t fall behind in a system that systematically discriminates against them.