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.

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.

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.

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.