Midyear Check-in

Just a friendly reminder to please fill out this brief 7 question check-in. It's intended for you to reflect on your service with Literations so far and provide feedback on your experience. The form will be completed once in the middle of the program year and again at the end of the program year.

Please complete this form by Monday February 9th, 2026.

Coach Observations

Continuing to Support Our Coaches

Literations observes coaches throughout the year so we can understand what’s working and where we may need to provide additional support and training for coaches. The stronger and more confident our coaches are in delivering our program, the stronger and more confident our students will become in their reading.

Our observations help make Literations an even better experience for both our coaches and students.

Team leaders and program staff will begin observing coaches (focusing on first-year volunteers first and returning volunteers next) in December and January. Please have a look at the observation form to see what team leaders will be observing and discussing with you. As you will see, the form follows our 30-minute structured session and provides opportunities for coaches to share what they need to feel confident and successful. 

Coach Observation Form

School Calendar Notices

February Vacation: 2/16-2/20 - no sessions

Boston Public School Calendar

Chelsea Public School Calendar

Framingham Public School Calendar

Your Safety: Our volunteer safety is very important to us, which we are particularly mindful of this time of year. If you feel unsafe traveling to a site due to weather, conditions, parking, etc., please notify your site team leader and / or program staff when you are not be able to be at site. We want you to be safe and NOT brave dangers to get to your site.

Literations follows Boston, Framingham, and Chelsea Public School closures during inclement weather. Please review our Snow Policy for details on program closures, event cancellations, and weather-related communications.

Upcoming Events

• Hub Office Hours — Every Friday | 1–2pm
• Got questions about logging in, session entry, or timesheets? Drop in for live support. Zoom info can be found under Timesheets and Session Entry on the Link!

• Hub Training for New Volunteers: — Friday 2/27 | 10:30-12pm
• Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87904817905?jst=2

Save these April Dates

April is going to be a busy month. More details on all these events coming soon.



• Wednesday April 8 , Marathon Poster Party: Make posters at our office to cheer on the Literations runners raising money in the Boston Marathon.

• Thursday April 9 (Boston/Chelsea) and Friday April 10 (Framingham) Volunteer Appreciation Lunches: Let’s eat, laugh, and celebrate YOU—our incredible volunteers.

• Wednesday April 15, Lighting the Spark : Our annual fundraising gala—volunteers get a special discount to attend!



• Monday April 20, Marathon Cheer Squad: Join us along the marathon route to cheer on Literations runners and show community support.

Celebrate Black History Month

As we mark Black History Month, we’re excited to share a curated collection of resources and activities on the LINK Community Connections page you’ll find:

📚 Read-Aloud & RAZ Book Collections — curated lists of titles and guided read-aloud resources.

🧠 Activities & Learning Resources — articles, historical guides, and educational links to help spark thoughtful conversations.

🎨 Art, Museums & Culture — links to local art, museums, and cultural organizations highlighting African American history and creativity.



📅 Community Events — lists of happenings and celebrations in Boston, Chelsea, Framingham, and beyond .

Let’s celebrate the stories, achievements, and voices that enrich our communities!

Coaching Quick Tips

Takeaways from Our Ask the Experts Winter Workshop

Our January Ask the Experts Winter Workshop was full of practical, coach-approved strategies for supporting students. Please feel free to check out the recording and slides. Here are a few highlights you can bring right into your sessions:

Supporting English Language Learners

The goal with English Learners is confidence and understanding—not perfect English. An accent is not a mistake; it’s a sign of growing language skills. Being multilingual is a superpower—learning more than one language takes practice, persistence, and serious brain power, proving students can do hard things. Model pronunciation as you read together, step in only when meaning is affected, and lean on visuals, gestures, and simple English supports before translating. Normalizing bilingual reading helps students feel safe taking risks and keep moving forward.

Understanding Student Behavior

Student behavior is often communication, not defiance. Quick, simple check-ins (e.g asking them to rate their day on a scale of 1-5) go a long way in building trust and connection. When students share personal information, respond with calm empathy, thank them for trusting you, and loop in the teacher so the student can get the support they need.