Wizard of Words
Wizards of Words (WoW), a paired literacy improvement programme for children in first and second class in primary school, involving older volunteers was implemented by Barnardos between 2007 and 2012.
Barnardos partnered with 10 schools in Dublin and Limerick and more than 100 trained volunteers over the age of 55 to deliver the programme to more than 300 children between 2007 and 2012.
Barnardos commissioned the Child and Family Research Centre at NUIG to undertake an evaluation of the programme between 2008 and 2011. There were two strands to the evaluation:
The WoW programme had a positive impact on children’s reading skills, their enjoyment of reading and their self-belief. The one-to-one reading sessions with highly trained volunteers helped to build a very strong bond and relationship with the participating children and the inter-generational dimension is key to the programme’s success. Specifically, the outcomes evaluation has shown that WoW:
The process evaluation shows that the WoW programme was viewed very positively by school principals and staff; volunteers; and children themselves.
In summary, the evaluation shows that a volunteer-based reading programme can ensure positive outcomes for children’s reading ability and their reading confidence.
Barnardos partnered with 10 schools in Dublin and Limerick and more than 100 trained volunteers over the age of 55 to deliver the programme to more than 300 children between 2007 and 2012.
Barnardos commissioned the Child and Family Research Centre at NUIG to undertake an evaluation of the programme between 2008 and 2011. There were two strands to the evaluation:
- An outcomes study using a randomised control trial
- A process study assessing the success of programme implementation
The WoW programme had a positive impact on children’s reading skills, their enjoyment of reading and their self-belief. The one-to-one reading sessions with highly trained volunteers helped to build a very strong bond and relationship with the participating children and the inter-generational dimension is key to the programme’s success. Specifically, the outcomes evaluation has shown that WoW:
- Improves children’s phonemic awareness and phonic knowledge
- Improves children’s word recognition skills
- Improves children’s enjoyment of reading
- Improves children’s perceived competence in their reading ability
The process evaluation shows that the WoW programme was viewed very positively by school principals and staff; volunteers; and children themselves.
In summary, the evaluation shows that a volunteer-based reading programme can ensure positive outcomes for children’s reading ability and their reading confidence.