About Our RBMP
The Reading Buddies Mentorship Program (RBMP) at Marshall Traditional School pairs every 1st grader with a community volunteer mentor to support reading growth and confidence. Launched in 2022 by the Marshall Traditional School's Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), the program has continued to expand and is now led by PTO Co-VP Nicky Johnson and parent volunteer Marinna Bittle. RBMP brings students and mentors together weekly for 30 minute sessions over roughly 25 weeks. Each pair uses individualized folders with books matched to students' reading levels, sight words, and skill-building activities that evolve as students progress.
While improving literacy is a primary goal, RBMP also fosters meaningful connections to give students consistent one-on-one support and encouragement from caring adults. Beyond academics, the program supports students' social-emotional development and helps build confidence that can positively influence behavior and long-term success in the classroom. Students eagerly anticipate their weekly sessions and younger grades often tell us how they look forward to participating in the future.
Since its inception, RBMP participants have logged over 2,600 hours of one-on-one reading time with students, reading more than 1,300 books in the 25-26 year alone! We cannot wait to see the amazing things next year's 1st graders accomplish as we soon begin year 5 of RBMP in the 26-27 school year.
RBMP 25-26 Stats
This growth doesn't happen in a vacuum! It's a testament to the hard work of our students, their adults at home, and their teachers putting in a great deal of effort focusing on reading. We're thankful we can come in and help support those efforts further.
Thank you to our Mentors!
Our buddies from the 25-26 school year designed bookmarks that were given to their mentors at the end of April as a small way to say thank you. We also had our annual donut party to celebrate the hard work our buddies and mentors put in, the dedication from our MTS staff, and to thank anyone else who helped make this program possible for our 4th year.
Find Out More!
If you'd like to find out more about our RBMP you email us at RBMPmarshalltraditionalpto@gmail.com