Roots and Shoots is an intergenerational literacy program that unites seniors and children to address one of the nation’s most prevailing issues – illiteracy.  Roots and Shoots effectively combines the wisdom, patience and grace of mature adults with the openness, excitement and hunger for learning found in children.

The philosophy that drives Roots and Shoots is simple – students who excel in literacy have a greater chance at meeting and/or exceeding educational standards.

Who is a root?   A root is a volunteer providing a strong foundation for helping children one-on-one or in a small group setting.  A root can be a parent, grandparent, community leader, retiree, or anyone who cares about children and reading.

Will training be provided?  Roots and Shoots provides orientation training for all new volunteers.  Training addresses how to handle situations that a volunteer might encounter while volunteering.

Are educational tools such as flashcards or books provided?  Each teacher develops a resource bucket that is housed in the media center.  In the resource buckets, the volunteers find instructions from the teacher and tools within the bucket to use during the volunteer time.

How many hours a week is required?  As little as one hour per week is all that is needed.