H.U.G. Reading Mentor

H.U.G. Reading Mentor

Build your education experience. Strengthen a child’s confidence. Be the difference.

Weekly Commitment: 5–20 hours
Preferred Availability: Monday–Friday, 1:00–4:00 p.m. EST
Program Terms: Fall: September–December | Spring: January–March
Location: Remote via Zoom
Opportunity Type: Unpaid internship, with potential Federal Work-Study eligibility through partner universities

Turn Your Passion for Education Into Meaningful Experience

Are you a college student interested in becoming a teacher, reading specialist, counselor, social worker, child-development professional, or youth mentor?

H.U.G. (Help Us Grow) is seeking dependable and encouraging Reading Mentors to help third-grade students strengthen their reading comprehension and confidence.

You do not need to be an experienced teacher. H.U.G. provides structured lessons, training, technology support, and guidance to help you succeed. You will meet one-on-one with a student in a virtual setting and guide them through our established literacy program.

This is an opportunity to gain practical experience working directly with children while developing skills that can support your future career in education or another youth-focused field.

What You’ll Gain

As a H.U.G. Reading Mentor, you will:

Gain hands-on experience supporting a child’s literacy development.

Build valuable skills in teaching, communication, mentoring, and student engagement.

Learn how to use structured reading-intervention strategies.

Receive training in trauma-informed care, educational technology, and program fidelity.

Gain experience working in a virtual learning environment.

Strengthen your résumé with meaningful education and youth-development experience.

Make a measurable difference in a child’s reading ability and self-confidence.

Join a supportive community of educators, mentors, and tutors.

What You’ll Do

Before Each Session

Please be prepared approximately 15 minutes before your scheduled session to:

Access Google Classroom and open the week’s lesson.

Pre-fill required forms to maximize instructional time.

Set up in a quiet, distraction-free environment.

Silence your phone and close the door to protect the student’s learning time.

During Each Session

You will:

Meet one-on-one with your assigned student in a Zoom breakout room.

Share lesson materials from Google Classroom using screen share.

Guide the student through H.U.G.’s structured reading activities.

Create a positive, encouraging, and focused learning environment.

Establish and reinforce H.U.G. session expectations, including remaining seated, focused, and engaged.

Begin wrapping up 10 minutes before the hour when prompted by the H.U.G. administrator.

Stop screen sharing and say goodbye to your student at the end of the session.

After Each Session

You will:

Complete the Post-Lesson Questionnaire after the student leaves.

Confirm that all required forms have been submitted before closing Google Classroom.

Who Should Apply?

This opportunity is especially well suited for college students pursuing or considering a career in:

Education or teaching

Elementary education

Literacy or reading intervention

Child development

Psychology

Social work

Counseling

Speech-language development

Nonprofit or youth services

Students in other areas of study are also encouraged to apply if they enjoy working with children and want meaningful mentoring experience.

Requirements

Must be at least 17 years old.

Currently enrolled in a college or university.

Available approximately 5–20 hours per week.

Available during weekday Monday through Friday during business hours, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST.

Strong communication, organization, and multitasking skills.

Comfortable mentoring children in a virtual learning environment.

Willing to learn and use Google Classroom and other required technology.

Comfortable using Zoom; training and support will be provided.

Access to a reliable computer with a camera and stable internet connection.

Successful completion of a background check.

Make Your Experience Matter

If you are looking for experience that goes beyond observation, H.U.G. gives you the opportunity to work directly with a child, practice real mentoring and instructional skills, and help a young reader grow.

Become a H.U.G. Reading Mentor and help a child unlock the confidence and power that come with reading.

Important Compensation and Academic Credit Disclosure

This is an unpaid internship unless the participant qualifies for Federal Work-Study funding through one of H.U.G.’s partner universities.

Before accepting an offer, please speak with your school’s Internship Coordinator or Federal Work-Study office to confirm:

Whether this opportunity meets your school’s requirements for academic credit.

Whether you are eligible to receive Federal Work-Study compensation.

Whether H.U.G. is currently partnered with your university.