WITS Student Programs

WITS's main literacy programs fall into two key areas: Student Mentorship Programs and Book Ownership Programs. Our Student Mentorship Programs create meaningful relationships between mentors and students to improve literacy skills and build students’ confidence in reading. These programs foster academic growth while addressing students' broader social and emotional needs.

Instead of offering one-off opportunities for volunteers, WITS mentors commit to weekly or bi-weekly participation, meeting one-on-one with the same student from October through May. During WITS sessions, students and mentors select books from curated selections of high-interest, culturally relevant texts to read aloud.

Program for Kindergarteners
Program for 2nd-4th Graders
Program for 4th-6th Graders
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Why WITS Student Mentorship Programs Matter

How well a student engages in back-and-forth communication is a strong predictor of whether a kindergarten student will meet first grade literacy targets.

With the help of their mentors, WITS Kindergarten students practice building book and print awareness, including reading left to right and distinguishing between letters and words.

According to data from The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), based on testing from 2025, only 41% of students in Chicago Public Schools are proficient in reading.

62%

By year’s end, 62% of WITS students read at or above grade-level, nearly double the rate of 37% for all students at WITS schools.

Research emphasizes the need for resources and programs that support students’ emotional well-being, which plays a critical role in their academic success.

100%

100% of our partner teachers are satisfied with student participation in WITS. Teachers value that our programs promote a love of reading and support social-emotional development in students.

WITS ON THE WEEKEND

STEAM at work

WITS on the Weekend (WoW) is a team-based reading and mentoring program that takes place for two hours on Saturday mornings from October to May. 3rd through 6th grade students meet their volunteer mentors at school to engage in team-building activities, recreational reading, and cooperative learning challenges focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) concepts. No previous STEAM experience is necessary. WoW volunteers commit to 16 select Saturdays from October-May, 10:00am-12:00pm.

apply to volunteer

WITS Kindergarten

WITS Kindergarten (WITSK) is a one-on-one reading program that takes place at Chicago public elementary schools. Kindergarten students read with a consistent mentor each week, practicing skills and enjoying stories. WITSK encourages a love of reading and learning.

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WITS Mid-Day Mentoring

Mid-Day Mentoring (MDM) is a program that pairs 2nd—4th grade students with corporate mentors for one-on-one, 45-minute reading sessions at CPS elementary schools. This program promotes fluency and comprehension skills and encourages students to love reading.

WITS Student Mentor and Student
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WITS Workplace Mentoring

Workplace Mentoring (WPM) is a one-on-one after school program that takes place once a week for one hour at downtown offices. Mentors and students build strong relationships through facilitated activities, reading out loud, and working on students’ homework.

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Our Outcomes

According to data from The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), based on testing from 2025, only 41% of students in Chicago Public Schools are proficient in reading.

62%
By year’s end, 62% of WITS students read at or above grade-level, nearly double the rate of 37% for all students at WITS schools.
80%
80% of WITS-K teachers reported their students had developed specialized reading interests throughout the year, an increase of more than 44% from the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.​
91%
91% of WITS students reported having positive attitudes towards reading at the end of the 2024-25 school year, up from 73% at the beginning of the year.
94%
At the end of the 2024-25 school year, an across-program average of 94% of WITS students reported feeling good or very good about spending time with their mentors.​
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