LEAD AND READ CIRCLES
Connect literacy, leadership, and character through Lead and Read Circles.
Lead and Read Circles bring high school mentors and elementary students together for weekly shared reading and character-building experiences.
Through Tony and Lauren Dungy’s children’s books and Elevate’s 13 Character Qualities, students grow as readers — and as leaders.
What is a Lead and Read Circle?
A Lead and Read Circle is a weekly, 30-minute cross-age mentoring experience that combines:
- – A Read Aloud from Tony & Lauren Dungy’s character education children’s books
- – Character Education Standards highlighted and connected to Elevate’s 13 Character Qualities
- – Student Mentorship, as Elevate high school students lead a short activity after the Read Aloud
How It Works
Lead and Read Circles build on Elevate’s existing cross-age mentoring model, where high school students already meet weekly with elementary classrooms, adding shared reading to the character conversations and relationships that are already forming.
- – 4–8 elementary students
- – 1–2 Elevate high school mentors
- – Weekly 30-minute reading circles
- – Built around character development and leadership practice
Why It Matters
Lead and Read Circles build the foundation for a “Reading for Character” initiative, strengthening literacy while reinforcing the character and leadership skills students need to thrive.
Your Investment Makes This Possible
Your support provides books, coordination, training, and expansion into more schools and cities.