For the past decade, Mark Andersen has volunteered as a WITS Mid-Day Mentoring (MDM) literacy mentor. Once a week for an entire school year, Mark visits Manuel Perez, Jr. Elementary school … Read More
How Study Groups Impact School Culture
WITS believes that if we can develop a love of reading in students, it will positively impact their entire life. WITS knows that empowered readers change the world. Through the … Read More
Student Perspective: Growth and Confidence
WITS values student growth, which we measure through two outcomes: reading level growth and attitudes toward reading. One way that students show reading level growth is through increased confidence that … Read More
With Mission in Mind: The Growth and Success of the WITS-Deloitte Partnership
Partnerships between WITS mentors and students are the driving force of WITS volunteer programs. These relationships develop over the course of the school year through weekly reading sessions and provide … Read More
Celebrating the Life of Gwendolyn Brooks
Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000) was a poet, author, and teacher from Chicago. She grew up in Bronzeville, where her parents encouraged her love of poetry from a young age. She began … Read More
Letter From a Parent
I hope you are having a good morning. I am the mother of a WITS student that participants in the WITS program through the partnership with Manuel Perez Elementary School. … Read More
5 Great WITS Memories
I have been so lucky to be a Program Coordinator at WITS for the past two years, and to have worked with students from Perez, McAuliffe, Brownell, and McClellan. As … Read More
Learn About WITS School Coordinators
WITS’ Workplace Mentoring program would not be possible without the help of our school coordinators. School coordinators play a critical role in ensuring that our workplace mentoring programs run smoothly. … Read More
Program Reflection: My First Year at WITS
As the program year dwindles down–thousands of pages of words were read by students and volunteers and countless laughs and inside jokes were shared throughout all WITS programs. I want … Read More
National Teacher’s Day
If you are reading this, you grew and learned with powerful teachers. Every morning, all over Chicagoland, thousands of teachers wake up before first light, start their coffee makers, put … Read More
