Love Helps, Inc.

The LEADING by READING program promotes literacy and positive behavior by bringing community role model volunteers into public school kindergarten classrooms on weekly basis to read children's stories on character building and responsible behavior themes. During the past school year, our volunteers read more than 900 books to more than 700 kindergarten students in 11 Metro. Nashville Public Elementary Schools where 80% of the students live in poverty. Over 85% of the participating teachers surveyed stated that the program was beneficial for their students. We also continue to receive new requests from schools for this program.

The TOOLS for SCHOOLS program provides teachers with materials to encourage positive behavior and discipline in their classrooms. These materials include disciplinary forms/cards as well as encouraging notes and cards. These products which we have designed can be ordered by educators for use in their classroom/school on a daily basis to promote positive behavior and student achievement. We began the process of restarting this program after a temporary suspension due to budget restrictions.

Through the Character LIVE! program students in grades 1-12 can participate in workshops that teaches them about important topics such as, handling emotions, self-esteem, mutual respect, responsible decision making and teamwork. Forty-five minute teaching sessions are conducted in school classrooms on topics which support positive behavior. Last year, we restarted this program, after a temporary suspension due to budget restrictions, and conducted 11 in-class presentations at 4 schools for 248 elementary students.