Breaking Down Barriers to Help All Children Discover the Joy of Reading

© Courtesy of Strong Start

Breaking Down Barriers to Help All Children Discover the Joy of Reading

Imagine a classroom filled with excited young learners, each receiving the personalized attention they need to grow their reading skills. Strong Start brings that image to life by supporting and enriching school-based learning through its vision that All Children Read. Its Letters, Sounds and Words™ program is a valuable tool that builds on the literacy instruction provided by schools.

Designed as a 10-week literacy boost for children aged five to nine, the program offers focused, engaging practice through carefully crafted games and activities.

Guided by trained community volunteers, children meet for 30-minute sessions twice weekly, honing foundational skills like letter recognition, phonics, blending sounds, and decoding words. Through one-on-one sessions, children gain confidence and feel encouraged and excited about their progress—a true gift for any young learner.

“A great advantage of the Strong Start program is the community volunteer involvement in support of children’s literacy skill development,” explained Riley Culhane, Superintendent of Education at the Avon Maitland District School Board. “This program fosters community connections while at the same time providing literacy support. Our students benefit greatly from this partnership.”

A TURNKEY OPPORTUNITY FOR SCHOOLS

We know that Ontario’s elementary schools are dynamic places where multiple priorities are managed with stretched resources. For busy teachers and administrators, Strong Start’s Letters, Sounds and Words program is a turnkey solution that provides everything schools need to deliver additional literacy support for children who would benefit.

Last year alone, communities rallied around this initiative, contributing over 35,000 volunteer hours to help children succeed. By creating an accessible path for community members to get involved, Strong Start has established a program that complements teachers’ efforts and respects their professional judgment. Teachers select the children who would benefit most, boosting students' morale through these fun, personalized literacy sessions. Children feel special, knowing someone from their community is rooting for them, and teachers gain peace of mind, knowing their students are getting that crucial extra practice.

The Ontario Ministry of Education consistently emphasizes the value of school-community partnerships in enhancing student success. Engaging parents, guardians, and community members strengthens individual student performance and helps create a supportive, inclusive learning environment—a win-win for everyone involved.

MORE THAN JUST A HELPING HAND

Each year, Strong Start relies on the gifts of time by thousands of caring individuals who go above and beyond to help children learn to read. Whether they are working one-on-one with children in local schools or assembling program materials at the National Program Deployment Centre, the organization could not do their important work without the generous support of the volunteer community.

Over the past 23 years, nearly 40,000 volunteers have given an astonishing 669,884 hours, impacting the lives of over 60,000 children.

Many volunteers find their lives enriched in unexpected ways. Some have discovered a calling, choosing to pursue careers in education after experiencing the joy of helping children firsthand. Others have found that volunteering has allowed them to give back to their community and connect meaningfully with a new generation.

“When you give your time to the kids to help them read, you get more in return than they will ever know,” said one Volunteer Coach. “I was humbled to see how little time and effort it took on my part to make a difference. It was deeply rewarding to see the children’s faces light up with pride when they realized their progress.”

But volunteering doesn’t only help children—studies have shown that giving back can boost happiness, reduce stress, and foster a sense of purpose. So, by giving back to the community, volunteers are also helping themselves.

A FUN, DATA-DRIVEN LITERACY BOOST FOR ALL CHILDREN

The Letters, Sounds and Words program results from thoughtful design, ongoing evaluation, and alignment with the best practices in literacy education. Every element of the program, from the games to the one-on-one coaching, has been crafted to meet the highest standards, including the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read Report and the Science of Reading.

Crucially, the program removes barriers for families by offering free in-school literacy support. This means that every child has access to extra practice regardless of their family’s financial situation. Teachers carefully select children who need an extra boost, and pre-assessments ensure that volunteers start each child at the right level with engaging and skill-specific activities. By offering fun, supportive practice within the school day, Strong Start helps children build confidence and joy in their reading journey, often transforming their feelings about learning.

To make a good thing better, this program connects schools and communities with a shared goal. Children eagerly anticipate their sessions with Volunteer Coaches, who are just as excited to see them. Alongside building a lifelong love of reading, the Letters, Sounds and Words program brings communities together!

To learn more about how Strong Start is transforming lives or how to bring this high-impact program to your school and community, visit their website at strongstart.ca or by scanning the QR code below. Let’s help every child experience the joy of reading.