The Monterey County Preschool Service Corps program recruits, selects, trains, and places AmeriCorps members who serve as a language and literacy tutor in partnering preschools. The Preschool Service Corps members serve at their respective school sites and collaborate with the preschool's educational team. Examples of services that Preschool Service Corps members provide include:
- Collaborating with the classroom teachers and child’s family to support intentional activity plans based on the child’s interest focusing on language and literacy development.
- Expanding children’s vocabulary through reading and play.
- Engaging in the children’s daily routines in their preschool classroom through play and activities to incorporate new vocabulary and back-and-forth conversations.
- Supporting children to explore the sounds of language by singing, rhyming, or reading books.
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Our Mission |
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The program's mission is to support kindergarten readiness by offering individualized tutoring for preschool children to develop language and literacy skills during their regular preschool day. Our long-term goal is for children to read well and independently by the end of third grade so that they can succeed in fourth grade and beyond. |
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Critical Need
Currently, about 75% of all Monterey County children entering Kindergarten are not yet at age-level in language and literacy and/or English Language development skills. The direct, ongoing tutoring sessions provided by Preschool Service Corps members will serve to address this gap.
Preschool Service Corps members support a small group of children and provide each child with five tutoring sessions per week, totaling up to 15 hours of one-on-one or small group interactions. Tutoring sessions are scheduled in a minimum of fifteen-minute increments during a school day. Preschool Service Corps members utilize an assortment of books, resources, and educational activities to enhance their tutoring sessions. In addition to focusing on student achievement, the program strives to develop students' interest in Language and Literacy.
The program builds commitment to community by participating in a variety of community service events throughout the year.
All members receive initial and ongoing training to inform their service as literacy tutors.
Training topics include but not limited to:
- Tutoring small groups effectively
- Using Data for Story Telling
- CPR & First Aide Training Pediatrics & Adult
- Price Budgeting Materials for Classroom
- Inclusion of Children with Disabilities
- Equity in the Classroom
- Family Partnerships and Culture
- Responsive Early Education for Young Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness
- The Triangle of Learning:
- Family Education, and Community
- Trauma – Informed Best Practices and Effective Ways to Build a Strong Classroom Community
- Preschool Language and Literacy Development and English Language Development Foundations Frameworks, and Risky Play and Outdoor Classroom Environments
- Circle Time Engagement & Transitions through Music and Movement
- Rethinking a Cultural Classroom Community
- Life After AmeriCorps
- Resume Building
- Cover Letter
- How to use Education Award
Who We Serve
In partnership with seven agencies, Preschool Service Corps members are placed in preschool classrooms across Monterey County. In one service year, the program will provide tutoring to over 225 preschool students who can benefit from individualized language and literacy experiences.
Preschool Service Corps has partnerships with preschool programs in Castroville, Gonzales, Greenfield, King City, Monterey, Salinas, and Seaside.
Become a Preschool Service Corps Volunteer!
Thank you for your interest in the Preschool Service Corps Program.
Due to recent funding changes, we are currently pausing new applications as we evaluate the program's future direction. While we don't have a definitive timeline or plan at this moment, we remain committed to early childhood education and are exploring possibilities for the program's continuation.
If you'd like to stay informed about potential future opportunities, please fill out the form below. We'll keep you updated as more information becomes available.