About Us
My background is in theater, and theater for young audiences in particular.
In 1972, I was a founding member of Theatre of Youth, a professional company of adult actors dedicated to creating theater for young people. I directed plays and created theater-in-education programs for more than 36 years. But when I had to step away from the theater during the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself thinking, “What do I do now?”
The mayor of Buffalo had done a televised interview about Read to Succeed and I was intrigued. The guiding principle of Theatre of Youth had been to explore the wonders and worries of childhood with respect and care, so working with kids who need a little extra help with reading was a natural fit. When schools reopened in 2022, I went to an open house to learn more. After that, I was sold.
I was a little nervous on my first day tutoring, but I focused on getting acquainted with the kids and putting them at ease. Asking them questions and trying to gauge what they were interested in gave me a lot of clues as to how I should approach working with each child.
My years in theater taught me how the arts can spur children’s creative development, and that the skills they develop through theater are transferable to other areas of their lives. In fact, everything I learned in theater influences how I work with the kids I tutor.
For example, I start each child’s session with a theater game called “The Mirror.” We face each other and make eye contact, and I begin a movement that the child mirrors as exactly as possible. I say “freeze,” and then the child continues it. Sometimes we relate it to the book that we're doing right now or to something that's going on around us. I find that it's a way for them to focus and get in tune with me, and then we just segue into our session.
Meg Quinn engages student Zakariya Mohamed in a theater game called “The Mirror" before their tutoring session begins.
I also try to choose books about things they're interested in. Last year there was a little girl who mentioned gymnastics, so I found her a book about Simone Biles and she was fascinated. I showed her one of Biles’ performances on my phone and told her the Olympics would be happening that summer. She was so excited about it! I ran into her in the hallway this year, and she told me she had started taking gymnastics classes. If we had never discovered that, it might have been a missed opportunity.
This is my third year with the program. Twice a week, I work with three first graders, one at a time, for half an hour each. It’s so important that they get that undivided attention. I’m glad that I get to keep using my life experience in a meaningful way.
I've met such a variety of people who come from all different backgrounds and are just drawn to this. We concentrate on a very specific part of the reading process — building students’ fluency, accuracy and comprehension skills — and anyone can learn to teach it. You feel like nothing's wasted, and you're given a real responsibility.
The best part is seeing the kids get more self-confident. It makes them feel special when you notice their progress. I'll say, “Last week you had trouble with this word, but now you've got it. You learned it.” And you see their eyes pop open, like, “Wow, you know, maybe I did!” A lot of kids don't get an opportunity to feel that way very often. It makes you feel like you’re doing something important.
Learn more about AARP Foundation Experience Corps and how to become a volunteer.
Read more stories about how our programs have helped people find hope, and about the volunteers who give so much of themselves to help others.