Teen Trend Setters

Broward County High School Students Play Starring Role in Teen Trendsetters™ Reading Mentors Kick-Off

More than 200 Broward County, Florida high school students were in the spotlight today at a district-wide kickoff of the Teen Trendsetters™ Reading Mentors program, a youth-driven initiative aimed at improving the reading skills of elementary students and providing leadership and community service experience to teens.

"Thanks to the tremendous generosity over the years from the Legislature and our business partners like Comcast and the State Farm Youth Advisory Board, we have watched Teen Trendsetters grow in Florida from just 30 teens to an estimated 2500 this year, said for Governor Jeb Bush, who first launched the program in 2002. "Because of its great success in nurturing young readers and leaders, today this hugely popular program can be found in schools throughout the southeast, with ten other states following Florida's lead by starting Teen Trendsetters programs of their own." Click here to read more...

"OCTOBER 8th IS READ FOR THE RECORD"

-Win books for Pre-K and Kindergarten classes-

"Will you read me a story?" This simple question is an invitation to share the joy of reading with a child.

Read for the Record is a campaign to bring school children together with other youth and adults who will all read the same book, on the same day - October 8, 2009. This year, Eric Carle's very popular book The Very Hungry Caterpillar will take center stage. Many of our Teen Trendsetter's will be enjoying this book at elementary schools where they mentor.

To raise awareness of the importance of early literacy, Volunteer USA Foundation is partnering with the Pearson Foundation on a fun essay contest. The contest encourages elementary teachers (1st-5th grade) and Teen Trendsetters' mentors to submit their best event idea based on characters in the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The prize for 10 winning entries is a set of 100 books which will be given to local Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten classes designated by the winner. For more information about the contest rules please click here or you may email Contest@VolunteerUSAFund.org.

Hurry, deadline to submit your fun event idea is September 17th!

For more information on how to involve your school visit www.readfortherecord.org

Newest Class of Teen Trendsetters™ -- Having the Time of their Life!

Welcome aboard to another 30 high school students who are the newest members of our prestigious Teen Trendsetters Reading Mentors program. The latest "Trendsetters" class enjoyed two fun-filled days of training, networking and meeting new friends at our summit in sunny Orlando, Florida! And they're having a blast. Just ask Lindsey from Cascade High in Tennessee.

"By becoming a Teen Trendsetter™ Reading Mentor, not only would I become motivated to broaden a child's knowledge, but I would also assist them in reaching their full potential in reading. I would strive to put a new meaning to the word "reading" by providing fun and educational activities for young readers. Mentors could even perform skits to certain stories or create games for the children to get involved in. I believe that through this program, children would develop a love for learning, which could change their lives. By expanding the minds of children, we will undoubtedly enhance the development of their futures. Nothing can be more rewarding than making these differences in a child's life."

The energy level was high among the jazzed up high-schoolers and their advisors. The students, flocked to summit from states across the southeast-a great big welcome to them and especially to our team from North Carolina, who will be opening that state's first ever Teen Trendsetters™ program. Everyone spent a couple of jam-packed days learning how to build a successful reading mentoring program. Once they get back to school, the students will recruit their buddies and classmates to join the cause and then will be paired with second and third-graders, who struggle with reading, for weekly mentoring sessions beginning in the fall. For all their hard work they also enjoyed a thrilling visit to Universal Orlando to catch a wild ride on the Incredible Hulk Coaster and the over-the-top flying and floating Simpsons Ride!

To wrap it up... today Teen Trendsetters™ stands nearly 3000 high school students strong, contributing their passion and time to an award-winning youth mentoring program that builds a volunteer spirit among high schoolers, while nurturing a joy of reading among children. Congratulations and click here for the list of Teen Trendsetters and participating high schools.

TEEN TRENDSETTERS™ READING MENTORS

From its beginning in Florida in 2002, with just 30 teen mentors, TEEN TRENDSETTERS™ has grown to over 3000 teen mentors, with a matching number of elementary school mentees across the southeast. TEEN TRENDSETTERS™ is designed to be an easily replicated, cost-effective and results-oriented program focused on improving reading skills and nurturing the spirit of community service among our youth.

To our knowledge, there are few programs like ours - designed specifically to help low-performing and at-risk second and third graders, a critical time period when many students are preparing to take their first standardized test. The program has proven so successful, it has received national acclaim, winning the prestigious Harris Wofford Award for best youth program.

TEEN TRENDSETTERS™ exists when - and only when - teens take on the challenge to form and lead this voluntary mentoring program. Each week, 15-25 teens from an individual high school mentor elementary students during or after school. They use a 45-minute curriculum, developed by Volunteer USA in partnership with Scholastic. Along with the curriculum, we provide 9-14 books that go home with the elementary school student throughout the year, so that parents can help reinforce a love of reading.

We've packaged the age-old concept of mentoring into a dynamic program teens and educators love. In fact, during the past six months, TEEN TRENDSETTERS™ has expanded into 12 new states and opened at 30 new schools. Our growth is continuing at a phenomenal pace; with plans to expand to another 30 high schools in the upcoming academic year.

See our Latest Teen Trendsetters™ Ad in Florida Trend