Start Making a Reader Today® (SMART®)

Start Making a Reader Today® (SMART®) is a volunteer tutoring program for students in grades K-2 who are at risk of reading failure. The program is implemented in schools where at least 40% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Volunteer tutors read one-on-one with students twice a week for 30 minutes per session throughout the school year. Typically, one volunteer works with two children on four types of activities: reading to the child, reading with the child, re-reading with the child, and asking the child questions about what has been read. Each student also receives two new books per month to encourage families to read together. Volunteers undergo 1-2 hours of training that provides an introduction to the program and to reading strategies instruction, using a handbook that outlines the four SMART® reading strategies.