Student2Student Reading Program

What is the Student2Student (S2S) reading program?

As a student in an academically well-rounded school it can be hard to imagine struggling in aspects of our education like reading. But this is the case for some students around Australia. Student2Student, run by The Smith Family, is a program dedicated to aiding students who are at least 2 years behind their age standard for reading.

You can get involved by signing up to be a Buddy, a volunteer who helps students that need further development in their literacy skills. You will be paired up with a Reader, a student who is a few years younger than you, and you will guide them through weekly online reading sessions. This may involve correcting their pronunciation of certain words or challenging their reading level. All reading resources are on Chattykids and reading sessions are done via voice calls. You can sign up during Clubs and Committees or email Ms Maddox.

My Personal Experience with S2S

As a Buddy, I chose to volunteer at Student2Student to complete my hours for Duke of Edinburgh in a way that had a positive impact on younger students. Every person’s experience for volunteering with Student2Student is different and during my journey with my Reader the challenges of Student2Student have made my Reader’s gradual improvement all the sweeter. One of the main difficulties for us was organising a time for our reading sessions. Even though we missed a number of sessions, it was still evident that my Reader’s reading was progressing steadily. 

Student2Student was a really eye-opening experience for me and it is a brilliant way to make an impact on younger readers.

• Stephanie Cui, Year 9 Student2Student Buddy