Read Your Heart Out

Read Your Heart Out is an opportunity for African American parents, families and community members to celebrate Black culture, literacy and experiences in the school communities in which we live and work during Black History Month in February. We encourage all MMSD parents and local community members who identify as African American/Black to volunteer during this month-long event.

You should volunteer because it's awesome! You will have a chance to make a difference in the lives of our youth. This experience will also enrich your life! The event is growing larger every year with more schools participating. We hope you will consider volunteering as we bring Black history to the schools and help make the celebration of Black culture and experiences a traditional part of Black History Month in February.

A reading is 30 minutes. We ask that each volunteer coordinate the final details with your child's teacher or the school's Read Your Heart Out coordinator. We'd like you to plan on doing two readings. You can select readings that are back-to-back on the same day, at the same school.

No, we will have books ready for you to choose from when you arrive at the school. You can pick one of the designated books from the school library or choose from a selection of books that the classroom teacher will have ready for you when you get to the classroom.

You will sign up online to read at the school of your choice ahead of the school's RYHO event. When you sign up, there will be a time slot that you can choose. Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to your scheduled reading. When you arrive, please check in with the school front office staff and let them know you are a volunteer reader for the Read Your Heart Out event.

Tell the office staff the name of the teacher's classroom(s) you will be visiting and they will give you some directions on how to find the classroom, or they might assign a student or other parent volunteers to assist you. The teacher(s) will be expecting you! Many schools host a Welcome Suite with coffee, refreshments, pastries or even a luncheon. Staff will direct you to the Welcome Suite, if applicable.

No, you'll sit down in a chair in front of the students and spend a few minutes telling them who you are and what you do. They are interested in you! Engage them with questions during and after the reading.

You can bring your own book and perhaps a fun prop about the story. We ask that you do not bring any food, treats or snacks for the students. MMSD has a strict policy against nut products. Because some children have nut allergies, we are prohibited from giving students any foods that contain nuts.

No. Most schools will designate a staff member to take pictures during the event for internal use only. Please be aware that some parents object to having pictures taken of their children. Please do not take any pictures of our students so that we can respect their privacy. Thank you.