READ USA, Inc.

📣 ATTENTION TEENS! Want a job that pays AND makes a difference? READ USA is looking for motivated teens and young adults (ages 17–21) to become Literacy Tutors in Duval County elementary schools this Spring! As a tutor, you will: ✳️ Serve Tuesdays–Thursdays after school (9 hrs/week) ✳️ Tutor 2–3 elementary students a day with reading Plus, you will: ✳️ Build valuable workplace skills you can use in ANY career ✳️ Grow your resume and connect with other teens ✳️ Change lives—your students become stronger readers because of YOU! Apply today using the QR code above or the link in our bio. Questions? Email tutor@readusainc.com.

🍪 Holiday Book Spotlight: A World of Cookies for Santa The holidays are the perfect time to slow down, cozy up, and enjoy stories that celebrate kindness, giving—and yes—COOKIES! One of our favorite picture books to read with kids this season is A World of Cookies for Santa by M.E. Furman and illustrated by Susan Gal. This delightful story takes readers on a global adventure, exploring how children around the world prepare for Santa’s arrival. From the Philippines to South Africa, Mexico to Russia, each stop introduces a new tradition and a delicious treat! What we love most: this book is both festive and educational. Kids get to learn about geography, culture, and empathy while discovering just how universal the joy of sharing sweets and stories really is. It’s the perfect spark for questions like: 🗺️ “Where is that country on the map?” 🍪 “Can we make those cookies, too?” And yes, recipes are included! The back of the book features easy cookie recipes inspired by the countries in the story, making it a wonderful choice for family baking days or classroom fun. Comment with your favorite cookie below!

🎄✨ READ USA Has TWO Trees in Deck The Square! ✨🎄 We’re excited to share that READ USA is being featured twice in this year’s Deck The Square holiday event hosted by the San Marco Merchants Association! 🌟 San Marco Books & More is showcasing a “Red, White, and Blue Christmas” themed Christmas tree in support of READ USA. 🍪 Cookie Fix San Marco is featuring an “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” children’s book–themed tree — also benefiting READ USA! Our heartfelt appreciation goes to San Marco Books & More, Desiree Bailey and her team, and to Cookie Fix San Marco, Michelle Clipp, and Michele Megas, for both choosing READ USA as their nonprofit partner this year. 💙 And a huge thank you to Louann at Gladwell's Florist for donating her time and talent to help us decorate both trees. Here's how Deck The Square works: 🗳️ VOTING: December 5 – 18 Each vote is just $1 and the tree with the most votes wins a grand prize on December 19. If you’re planning to vote more than once, we’d love your support for both of our trees! Visit San Marco Square to vote in-person by scanning the QR codes next to each tree. Please share with friends and family, and help support the teen tutors, students, and teachers we serve. Thank you, San Marco Books & More and Cookie Fix San Marco, for helping spread holiday cheer and a love for literacy this holiday season! 🎁📚💫

This week, we celebrated a first in READ USA's story: Seven full-time READ USA AmeriCorps Team Leaders joined our Literacy Tutoring teams across seven DCPS elementary schools — a historical milestone for our organization and the students we serve! Thanks to support from AmeriCorps and Volunteer Florida, these full-time Team Leaders will work with elementary students throughout the school day, leading 40-minute small-group literacy lessons from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., greatly expanding the reach and impact of READ USA Literacy Tutoring more than ever before! After school, they’ll shift into one-to-one tutoring as part of our normal Literacy Tutoring programming. Over the past few weeks, these Team Leaders completed intensive training to prepare for small-group instruction, giving us the ability to double or even triple the number of students we serve at each school. 👏 Congratulations to our new full-time READ USA AmeriCorps Team Leaders! Read more about our AmeriCorps Team Leaders in our newsletter: https://hubs.ly/Q03WZjvb0

Something exciting is coming to San Marco Square and READ USA is thrilled to be a part of it! ✨ Check out the details in our newsletter this afternoon! Click the link in our bio 😀

This #GivingTuesday, you have the power to transform a child’s life! Every struggling reader deserves the chance to catch up, thrive, and discover the joy of learning. With 48 days of dedicated Literacy Tutoring, that transformation can happen — we just need YOUR help! READ USA is so close: two-thirds of the resources are already secured. Now we need your support to open the door the rest of the way, because for every dollar you give, federal, state, and local grants and contracts triple your impact. Your Giving Tuesday donation fuels real progress: 📘 $26 = 1 literacy tutoring lesson 📚 $78 = 1 week of lessons 📅 $312 = 1 month of progress 🌟 $1,278 = the entire 48-day transformation for one student Help us make sure no child falls behind, not tomorrow, not ever. 💙 Donate today by clicking the link: https://hubs.ly/Q03WwHCl0

#Giving Tuesday dawns tomorrow, and so does your chance to change a child’s story. In just 48 days of tutoring, a struggling reader can catch up, thrive, and unlock a lifetime of learning and opportunity. That life-changing growth happens, day by day, one lesson at a time. But that transformation only happens when someone makes those 48 days possible. READ USA already has two-thirds of the funding needed — we just need YOU to unlock it: thanks to our federal, state, and local grants, every dollar you give is tripled. Your gift today creates real impact: 📘 $26 = 1 literacy tutoring lesson 📚 $78 = 1 week of lessons 📅 $312 = 1 month of progress 🌟 $1,278 = the entire 48-day transformation for one student By giving monthly, you ensure no child misses a single day they desperately need. One day at a time. One step closer. One child’s life forever changed — because of you. 💙 Donate today by clicking the link: https://hubs.ly/Q03WlFmP0

To keep the Thanksgiving spirit going we are highlighting A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting! This heartwarming and funny twist on the traditional Thanksgiving tale follows a nervous Turkey who soon discovers he’s a guest — not the meal! Complete with charming illustrations by Diane deGroat and a surprise ending that young readers love. Want to read this full review? Check out our newsletter linked in our bio :)

This Thanksgiving, our hearts are full💛 To all of our READ USA donors, partners, friends, and supporters, THANK YOU for coming to the proverbial table with us, for supporting our amazing teen tutors & students, and for believing in the power of literacy to change lives. We are so grateful for this incredible community that fuels our mission! We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving from Team READ USA! 🦃✨

In honor of American Education Week, we’re spotlighting Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty! 📚✨ This inspiring story follows Rosie, a young inventor who learns that failure isn’t the end, it’s part of the journey. The book celebrates STEM learning, creativity, confidence, and perseverance, making it a perfect read for young dreamers and problem-solvers. It’s a wonderful reminder that with curiosity, courage, and a growth mindset, anything is possible. 💡🔧 To learn more about American Education Week, visit the National Education Association at https://hubs.ly/Q03Vfwh90