Jumpstart Collaboration with Saint Vincent's Day Home

Since fall 2005, ten volunteers from Saint Mary’s College have been working in the two 3-year old classrooms, as part of the JumpStart collaboration.

JumpStart is a national organization committed to early literacy development in pre-school children. JumpStart volunteers work in early childhood organizations serving underserved communities to help children develop the pre-reading and writing skills they will need for future success in school. JumpStart-Oakland is based at St. Mary’s College in Moraga.

JumpStart volunteers lead group activities in the classroom, in addition to working individually with a specific child. Children selected to work one-on-one have demonstrated a need for pre-literacy skills as identified through an evaluation participating teachers complete. This evaluation is based on the High/Scope Child Observation Record which is a familiar tool to SVDH; the Day Home teachers currently use the High/Scope curriculum in their classrooms.

Until now, the JumpStart program at St. Mary’s worked solely in the San Antonio and Fruitvale neighborhoods.  The college was interested in expanding the program to include other Oakland communities. Rosemary Puerto, daughter of SVDH Parent Services Coordinator Carmen Baires, and a St. Mary’s student and JumpStart volunteer, suggested the program collaborate with the Day Home.

Now, two teams of five volunteers come to SVDH twice a week for two hours each visit. During this time, volunteers lead circle-time and small group activities. They also spend individual time reading and working with their paired student. Moreover, volunteers provide 2-6 additional hours of service to the classroom each week to support the children and teachers in the regular classroom setting.

The JumpStart educational philosophy includes providing key experiences in language, literacy, initiative, and social relations. Volunteers encourage the children’s pro-social and educational development through problem-solving and active learning opportunities.

The volunteers, many of whom are interested in teaching and child development, must complete an intensive training before they begin working at their selected site. The college students also receive weekly supervision and support from JumpStart staff and St. Mary’s psychology professors involved in the project.

The JumpStart program receives major federal funding from the Americorps program and includes Starbucks Coffee as one of its national corporate sponsors. The program lasts for one school year.

Read more about our Family Literacy Program.