BUILD emphasizes:
Individualization & Commitment:
BUILD matches each child with a UC Berkeley mentor who reads with them twice a week for 30-45 minutes. Mentors work with the same student for at least a semester or the academic year. Sometimes, mentors stay with the same student for several years.
Mentor Training: All mentors are trained in a balanced literacy approach by district literacy specialists.
Just Right Reading: Mentors help children pick engaging books that are just at or slightly above their reading level. Research shows that students who read "just right" books increase their skills at a faster rate.
Classroom Connections: BUILD works with teachers to communicate each child's individual reading needs.
Out-of-School Time: Mentoring takes place after school so students do not miss valuable class time.