"ReadUP has been extremely helpful to both our children. Our eldest has literacy challenges, and the program helped him gain confidence and acumen so that now not only is he is reading at grade level, but he enjoys reading, which is extraordinary. Our youngest has always read ahead of grade level but would gloss over words or phrases she found difficult; with the wonderful volunteers and appropriately levelled books, she has learned the pleasure of taking her time and enjoying understanding what she’s reading. Sheilah and her team are compassionate, knowledgeable, and their dedication has deeply benefitted our children and our family as a whole, and we are indebted to them for their program.”

– J.P.

"From the warm welcome at the check-in desk every Thursday, to the books that are just the right level for each child to feel successful and confident; and from the supportive volunteers to the incentive of stickers and “levelling up”, all aspects of the program are geared to cultivate and nurture a love of reading and both of our children have thrived from participating. We are so fortunate that ReadUP is available at Duke of Connaught and hope the program continues to grow to become available at more schools. Thank you for your commitment to running such an incredible and necessary program.”

– M.C.

"I'm extremely pleased with the support my daughter has received through the ReadUP program. I've noticed a great improvement in her reading comprehension as well as her confidence level. The program and the wonderful volunteers who staff the program have nurtured my daughter as a learner and her love of reading has blossomed. Every school should have this program!

Thank you!”
– Amy Slotek

"As you know, finding books at the appropriate level in English is challenging and French books are even more challenging to find as the libraries have a very limited amount and most classrooms don't allow books to be taken home. Over the last four years ReadUP and your support have been amazing! Thanks to you my 8-year-old has developed a love for reading in both French and English. Thank you for your on-going support with reading strategies. We truly appreciate you and the ReadUP program!”

– M.R.

"ReadUP has been an incredible resource for both my kids as they learn to read. I find the hardest part is just having enough books around that are actually at the right level for them, and so having access to a free club in the school where they can get books just suited to them each week has been so helpful. Further, seeing the whole community of their school and their friends of all ages rallying around reading in such a positive way has been so good. The method is kind and supportive and has worked wonders for both of them- now ages 8 and 5. I know that this club is going to help them build up a lifelong love of reading.”

– Sarah Richardson

"My daughter has been attending ReadUP regularly for 3 years. Her day school is French Immersion and this program has not only supported her English reading and language skills but has also supported her learning in French as the concepts are truly universal. As a family it has also allowed us to bond over reading. She feels such a sense of pride when she’s able to move to the ‘next level’ and she’s surrounded by encouragement. As a parent I can’t thank Sheilah and her team enough for aiding our family and teaching us the tools we need to support healthy reading habits!”

– D.S.

"ReadUP Club is an amazing initiative. As a parent of two I look forward every Tuesday to having the support and guidance in my children’s reading abilities. Being schooled in a very strict environment I wanted my kids to see school as a place of guided play. But my kids were struggling with reading. ReadUP made it fun and the progress was so obvious. The tips we learnt were very helpful and made reading at home a loved activity.

Thank you, Sheilah!!!”
– Boriana Karan

“ReadUP club has been truly awesome for my daughter. We were looking for an outlet that would help her take on the challenge of learning to read, and it really has happened so naturally. I am amazed at the process this system has of teaching the children to read through word recognition, and it has worked very well for my daughter who does not deal well with pressure or frustration. The environment is fun, and the reading is always at a level she is comfortable with. She is set up to succeed every time! When she is moved up to a new level (by having a little meeting with Sheilah where she reads with her but never makes her feel like she is being quizzed) she is filled with pride and happiness! I feel that my daughter’s reading is owed 100% to ReadUP —and I am so thrilled to have it at our school. Sheilah is there each week checking in on the children’s progress and giving the parents advice on how to support our children and ensure that we make it FUN for them. We seriously have so much gratitude to Sheilah for creating such an amazing program.”

– Meaghan Gregory

“ReadUP has been such a positive experience for our child and for us as parents. It's great to feel that you are not alone on this journey and that your child will learn and grow with this added support.”

– Adrianne and Darren

“We heard about the ReadUP program from a parent of one of our son's classmates. Our son was behind in his reading. We tried really hard to practice with him at home with little success. We started going to ReadUP with both kids about a year ago and it has been such an amazing program for both of them. They like going on Tuesdays to get new books and read with a volunteer. They like the books and we find it easy to read one book a day at home. And our son’s reading has improved to the point where he’s now ahead for his age.”

Thanks to Sheilah for creating the program and all the one-on-one support
with our family.
– Danielle McCandless

“I couldn’t help thinking tonight when you were talking to Jarrett about how far he’d come that it all started with you. We were getting nowhere with him and he was so frustrated. Now he reads all the time and enjoys it a lot. This is largely thanks to you!

Thanks so much!!! ”
– Andrew McCandless

“As a parent of a child with autism and accompanying speech & language delay, I truly appreciate the value of the service that the ReadUP Club provides. My son is encouraged to practice his reading and speech & language at the appropriate level in a safe and welcoming environment. It's been a positive experience for him and is laying the groundwork for his enjoyment of literacy. Having the opportunity to read with a variety of people also encourages his social development. The ReadUP Club has become a part of our regular routine to which my son looks forward. Whenever we pass by the school library, he says, 'We go (to the) library, Mama?' It's like music to my ears!

Thank you!”
– Jennifer Mackey

“As a parent and also as a member of Parent Council, I really love your program. So many schools are pressed for budget to provide levelled reading books to students, and for time to read with them. While I believe the onus has to be on parents and caregivers to read with their children whenever possible, some families can't provide that focused reading attention for a host of reasons. Having a ReadUP club in the school makes a real difference to everyone and I'm certain it sets many of our students up for success.

Thank you!”
– Jen

“I just want to extend my sincerest thanks to you and your volunteers for the ReadUP program. My son was falling behind in his reading by grade 2 and we were not getting any resources sent home from his school to help us. When I heard about the ReadUP program we started to come every week. Finally some clear guidance on what reading level my son was at and books that we could practice at home with him!

Sheilah, you are patient with the kids and you build up their confidence. My son has improved dramatically over the past year. He has gone from dreading the task of reading, to us getting him a book light because he likes to read chapter books independently before bed.

I was also able to bring my 3 other boys with us to ReadUP and we got one of them started early so he loves reading too. Such a great program! We will be back when my younger two start learning to read.

Thank you again!”
– Kerry Lally

“We like this program. It’s close to home. I have five kids in this program.”
– F.Y.

“The Reading Club is very good. My daughter loves it. It helps her in SK’s study. Now she is not as shy as before. My son is improving his reading skills from the Reading Club.”
– parent of 9-year-old son, 5-year-old daughter

“At home, my children like to bring out the books and read on their own. When they start reading, they all calm down.”
– parent of 8-year-old twin sons, 5-year-old daughter

“I like getting the levelled books in the reading club because I can’t get books with different levels at the library.”
– A.H.

“The Reading Club helps my children’s reading skills. The older one can help the younger one with reading. When they have time, they will pick up the books and re-read them again. Before they go to bed, they will read the books again.”
– parent of 11-, 8-, and 5-year-old daughters

“My children like to read the books from the Reading Club. As they read the books, they watch less TV at home.”
– parent of 10-year-old son, 7-year-old son, 5-year-old daughter, 3-year-old daughter

“My daughter came from China. She started as a non English speaker and now she can read Level K books in three years. She likes to read books. I also learn from the books that she reads.”
– parent of 8-year-old daughter, 3-year-old son

“I like the Reading Club. The Reading Club helps my children and me a lot. Since my son went to JK up to Grade 7, he didn’t know how to read. At that time, I didn’t know how to get help. My English was not good. After he came to the Reading Club, his reading skills gradually improved. Now he is reading Grade 6’s English text book. I also benefited from the Reading Club. Through helping my son in his reading, I learned my English at the same time. Now, I’m about the same level as my son in English. My daughter started joining Reading Club when she was about 3 years old. Her English is very good now. She feels reading is very easy and she enjoys reading very much. She is in Level 10 in the Reading Club. The school teacher only gave me one comment about her: “Excellent”. I believe the Reading Club can help so many people.”
– J.Q.

“When my older son was only three years old we started attending a reading club which was offered free of charge through our local parent drop-in centre. He began with alphabet books and then moved on to Level 1 books, and over the years he has worked his way up. The method the program used was wonderful. The children were moved along slowly from one level to another with such positive support and encouragement. I think it was so successful for my son in particular because it built his confidence as a reader and made it a fun and positive experience. I was so impressed with the program that I joined as a volunteer.”
– J.M.

"I've volunteered at ReadUP for a few years now and I'm still blown away at the incredible atmosphere that is created at each club. I always feel the buzz of excitement from the children getting their book bags and the passion and genuine care from the volunteers—that's across the board. Sometimes the children come in with shy smiles and some nervousness at first, but they leave feeling like a million bucks. The love and confidence that is instilled in them goes such a long way. They read more confidently and are willing to take risks because of the safe and loving atmosphere that is created each week. As an elementary school teacher, I've used the valuable skills learned from Sheilah's training from the ReadUP Club in my personal classroom and it's helped my reading program immensely."
- Rebeka Ly

"Although it's been short, my experience with the ReadUP program has been awesome. Seeing kids develop their skills and general interest in reading has been very rewarding and fun!"
- Vanessa Metcalf

"I recently started volunteering with ReadUP Reading Clubs and quickly fell in love with this program. The families are wonderful, and I’ve never seen kids so excited to read! Truly a fantastic and rewarding experience not only for the kids but for the volunteers as well!"
- Nicole F.

"I have volunteered in the ReadUP program at the Red Door Shelter for a few years now, and I have found it to be an extremely rewarding experience. I always look forward to my Thursday evenings reading with the children. It is so gratifying to see each individual child make progress and discover the joy and sense of accomplishment that they feel when they are reading. As a teacher, I know how important it is to get that practice outside of school, and for some children, that's not always possible due to family circumstances. I highly recommend this as a volunteer experience. It's one hour a week and it's time well spent."
- Victoria Gall

"Volunteering at ReadUP Reading Club has been an extremely rewarding experience. Not only have I improved my ability to engage and guide children, I also had fun whilst doing so. Sheilah, and my fellow volunteers, are very kind and sweet, as well as quite dedicated to helping the children. Not only was I able to see the children’s reading skills improve with every week, but I also got to learn how to make reading fun. It’s not only the skill that the children are gaining, it’s the positive experience of enjoying reading."
- Jarah Carlson (high school student)

"One month into teacher’s college, and already I have found myself using the skills I have learned at the ReadUP club in my placement school. Picture walks, using images to guide reading, and assigning books that are just right (at the appropriate level), have all helped to empower and motivate these young emerging readers to read. It has been such a rewarding experience watching these children grow and excel over the past couple of years, and knowing I had a small hand in doing so. A program such as this is truly invaluable, as it reaches a demographic that would otherwise not have the opportunity to enhance their reading skills."
- K.W.

"As a former elementary school teacher and a literacy specialist, I was delighted to learn about a neighbourhood reading program that parallels many early literacy programs in Toronto schools. The ReadUP club is a wonderful opportunity for children to experience success in learning to read through levelled books. Many children progress rapidly and I recall a few kindergarten age children who were fluently reading books at a grade two level. There is much need for variety in both fiction and non-fiction text as Sheilah assembles her bags. The more interesting books that she can collect, the more selection the children have, and the more they read. This program is especially valuable in neighbourhoods in Toronto where books are not commonplace in the home."
- C.M.

"I am a senior living close to the Parent Resources Centre and volunteer for the ReadUP club once a week. For nearly 40 years I was a secretary in one of the clinics at Sick Kids Hospital and enjoy having lots of children around and watching their progress. I often sit at the window bar at Tim Horton’s and watch the world go by while sipping my “Iced Cap” and reading the paper. Sometimes I’m attracted by a frantic waving and it is one of the little “readers” who has spotted me. I grew up in a small town and it is nice to be recognized when you are out in the neighbourhood."
- Jesse

"The reading club was a great experience for me, and I reflect on it often now that I am working on my Bachelor of Education at York University. By working with so many kids of differing abilities, I was able to practice supporting students with many aspects of reading. It was great, because throughout the year, I actually saw real improvements, and watched kids develop a love of books. The energy of the kids, parents and volunteers made the program fun. I would highly recommend the program to families and those looking for a great place to volunteer. It is a popular program, and very well organized."
- M.M.

"I very much enjoy volunteering with the reading program. By giving children books at the right level, the program sets the stage for the children to succeed. As a result, the children like to come to the drop-in and are motivated to read with the volunteers. This makes for a happy experience for the children and the volunteers."
- B.W.

"I have had the great opportunity to volunteer in Sheilah’s reading program, and through my experiences, I have been able to directly see what a huge asset she is with regard to promoting literacy in the community. Through her program I have witnessed struggling readers quickly advancing and ultimately reaching the same reading level as their peers. I’ve seen children develop confidence and pride in their reading abilities and successes, but most of all, I’ve seen both boys and girls steadily develop an enjoyment and pleasure for the act of reading that will undoubtedly stay long with them and help to significantly support their ongoing academic success in school."
- H.K.

"I love ReadUP. It's super good. Great. Awesome. I give it 10 thumbs up."
- Deniz (age 6)

"ReadUP has helped me get better at reading. I really like reading. Reading is really fun. It’s fun reading different types of books and unlocking higher levels."
- Ronin (age 6)

"I like reading the story books to my parents. Sometimes instead of my parents reading to me I will read books to them at bedtime."
- P.S. (age 8)

"I like ReadUP because it's fun, helps me read and helps me with my spelling. Sheilah is a great teacher that cares about us."
- Adelaide (age 9)

"I like it. It has lots of good reading teachers. They help you read and they give you lots of books at the right level - most of them are fun books!"
- S. P. (Grade 1)

"The books are fun to read."
- 7-year-old

"I think the reading club is great because you help people learn to read. I also think the reading club is great because you help people understand that reading is a great thing."
- 12-year-old

"I love the reading club. It helps me read better."
- 6-year-old

"When I was small I used to be on Level 1 and now I’m on chapter books."
- 10-year-old

"ReadUP helped me. When I was on Level 1, I was having trouble. But now I am on chapter books!"
- 8-year-old

"The reading club has many nice books."
- 12-year-old

"I like it. It learns me to read."
- 7-year-old

"Dear Sheilah and Volunteers, Thank you for helping me with my reading. It's been so helpful. I am reading chapter books at home."

"Thank you for teaching me and I want to thank you for teaching me how to read. AND I LOVE READING."

"Thank you for helping me with my reading this year. Have a nice summer. See you in September."

"We like the book club. We enjoyed it. Thank you."

"Reading club is great because I get to read. Reading is fun for me. I love reading."

“Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre was the first site to host the seminal ReadUP program and our community is incredibly grateful to program creator Sheilah Currie, and her team of dedicated volunteers. Hundreds of local families have seen improvements in their child’s literacy levels, allowing the children to participate more fully in classrooms and the greater community.

Sheilah’s enthusiasm for reading is infectious, and her positive attitude is mirrored by ReadUP volunteers of all ages. The drop-in format allows families the autonomy to attend when they are able to, and as there are no costs associated for participants, ReadUP has removed a key participation barrier for many newcomer and low-income families.

Eastview’s ReadUP continues to attract strong community participation and we are proud to be part of such an important capacity-building program. Our deep thanks go to Sheilah and the many wonderful volunteers that keep the ReadUP program running with vision and dedication.”

- Kerry Bowser
Executive Director - Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre

"Roden Public School and Equinox Holistic Alternative School are thrilled to host a ReadUP Club in our school community. The club is well run, well organized and makes reading fun for all. Every Tuesday, it is heart warming to see so many participants reading with the volunteers, and to see the excitement in the children as they improve their reading levels. Thank you so much to Sheilah Currie, the founder of the club, and thank you to the many volunteers who make the club so successful"

- Chris O'Shaughnessy - Vice-Principal