Volunteer with Los Ayudantes and Make a Difference in RWC Kids' Lives
Los Ayudantes ("The Helpers" in Spanish) is a literacy, non-profit organization dedicated to helping Redwood City 6-8th grade students improve their literacy and critical thinking skills. We are the only local non-profit placing in-class volunteer tutors at middle schools in the Redwood City School District. Over 50% of students in the Redwood City district are designated English language learners and 43% of Redwood City third grade students read one or two levels below their current grade. That figure rises to 65% for Latino students in the district and continues on into middle school.
At the direction of teachers, we help students improve reading comprehension and knowledge and refine their writing skills. We read with them, ask questions in order to go deeper into the context, and then tie the subject matter to their lives if possible. But perhaps more importantly, we become trusted adults in the lives of the students we work with on a weekly basis. We provide thoughtful concern for the students and help them with their organizational skills and any other issues that may be on their minds. This is truly the most rewarding part of working with the students. Many teachers explain that they wish they had the time in the day to get to know the students as we are able to do.
2020-21 School Year - Distance Learning Update
Our in-class middle school tutoring/mentoring program is moving online! Our volunteers will be tutoring over Zoom in either small groups (or one-on-one) with students who are distance learning from home. If you're interested in volunteering this year, please click here to get started.
At the direction of teachers, we help students improve reading comprehension and knowledge and refine their writing skills. We read with them, ask questions in order to go deeper into the context, and then tie the subject matter to their lives if possible. But perhaps more importantly, we become trusted adults in the lives of the students we work with on a weekly basis. We provide thoughtful concern for the students and help them with their organizational skills and any other issues that may be on their minds. This is truly the most rewarding part of working with the students. Many teachers explain that they wish they had the time in the day to get to know the students as we are able to do.
2020-21 School Year - Distance Learning Update
Our in-class middle school tutoring/mentoring program is moving online! Our volunteers will be tutoring over Zoom in either small groups (or one-on-one) with students who are distance learning from home. If you're interested in volunteering this year, please click here to get started.
Our MissionOur mission is to promote literacy for life by establishing caring connections with students and helping them to build literacy and critical thinking skills necessary for success in high school and beyond.
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Dedicated Volunteer TutorsSince our inception in 2002, Los Ayudantes has delivered thousands of hours of small group tutoring to English learners in Redwood City schools. In small group language and reading comprehension practice, we celebrate progress as students grow their English language and critical thinking skills.
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"Los Ayudantes is a great group of volunteers who care about our future. They come alongside to help in ways a teacher cannot accomplish alone." - Milagro Velasco, Former Language Arts teacher at McKinley Institute of Technology |
Los Ayudantes' Impact
Students who have achieved grade level proficiency in English language skills are MUCH more likely to graduate high school. We focus on our local community where the need is considerable.
- Over 50% of students in the Redwood City district are designated English language learners.
- 43% of Redwood City third grade students read one or two levels below their current grade. That figure rises to 65% for Latino students in the district.
- Nationally, we know that 88% of all high school drop-outs couldn’t read proficiently by 3rd grade. As such, many literacy non-profits stop serving children after 3rd or 5th grade. This is where we come in. We don't give up on these students. We don't stop believing in them.
An Award-winning Team
In May, 2012, Los Ayudantes was awarded the San Mateo County Reading Association's Celebrate Literacy Award. SMCRA recognizes programs for their significant contributions to reading instruction and literacy projects in San Mateo County.
