Managed and operated by CCF in partnership with Nova Southeastern University, the Reading Explorers Program offers services in Miami-Dade funded by The Children’s Trust and in Broward funded by the Children’s Services Council to providers and families to help improve foundational reading and reading comprehension skills in children.
Since 2013, Reading Explorers has helped more than 10,000 children and families, serving more than 2,000 children across Miami-Dade County each year. Beginning in 2021, Reading Explorers expanded to partner with summer programs in Broward County through funds from the Children’s Services Council. Children reading below grade level have experienced up to 50 percent improvement in their reading skills after completing the program.
Summer Services
The Reading Explorers Program helps rising kindergarteners and first and second graders improve their reading skills. Students reading at or below reading level receive small-group reading tutoring services provided by certified teachers. The program is tailored to each child’s reading ability, is both structured and interactive, and follows an evidence-based reading curriculum.
Reading Explorers works directly with summer programs funded by The Children’s Trust or the Children’s Services Council to coordinate services. Families are required to enroll in one of these programs in order to receive Reading Explorers tutoring services.
Services include:
- Reading assessments at the beginning, middle and end of the summer with personalized feedback for parents about their child’s reading skills
- Structured and interactive reading instruction tailored to the child’s ability levels, delivered 30 minutes/day, four days/week for six to eight weeks
- Parent school readiness workshops
- Resource connections during the school year for children reading below grade level
- Book giveaways
Work for our Summer Reading Explorers Program
The job postings for the 2025 Summer Reading Explorers Program positions will be coming soon! Click HERE for an overview of our three summer positions: Program Supervisors, Assessment Specialists and Tutors. Our program operates in sites across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Reach out to our coordinators to learn more!
For the hiring positions in Miami-Dade, please reach out to Orlena Ramirez.
For the hiring positions in Broward, please reach out to Odalys Calleja.
Visit careers.fiu.edu in the new year to apply for our positions by searching Reading Explorers as the key word under search.
Year-Round Services for Providers
Our program provides after-school care providers funded by The Children’s Trust or the Children’s Services Council with consultation year-round to improve their literacy instruction strategies for all children. Services include:
- A needs assessment to guide coaching support plan development
- Structured observations to inform goal-setting and planning
- Coaching and on-site technical assistance in the implementation of differentiated literacy instruction
- Provision of evidence-based resources for differentiated literacy instruction
- Ongoing support including staff development and training in differentiated literacy instruction, working with English as a Second Language (ESOL) and Dual Language Learning (DLL) students, and working with children with disabilities
Dialogic Reading Tools:
View our Dialogic Reading video in the language of your choice; you can also view the three videos directly on our YouTube playlist. Below each video below, you will also find caregiver and instructor guides to Dialogic Reading.
For more information, contact us at reading@fiu.edu. If you are interested in registering your child for a summer program that will be partnering with us, contact one of our program coordinators for more information. For camps participating in Miami-Dade, please reach out to us at reading@fiu.edu and for more information on camps participating in Broward County please reach out to Laura Gomez.
Additionally, you can learn more about funded programs at The Children's Trust and Children's Services Council of Broward County
