By Vikki Bowes-Mok, Words Alive Volunteer
Helen Rigby is Word’s Alive Curriculum Writer of the Year. This distinction honors a standout volunteer who creates curriculum guides and learning kits to help our volunteers talk about the story with students as well as family/student-facing guides with step-by-step craft instructions and discussion questions.
Helen lives in California and is a Behavior Technician implementing ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy with children with disabilities and learning differences. She spends a lot of time writing her own books and mainly poetry. She also loves going on nature walks, spending time with her parrot, Tobie, scrapbooking and puzzles.
Tobie, Helen’s parrot
Now let’s hear from Helen about her work with Words Alive.
Why do you volunteer with Words Alive?
I volunteered with Words Alive because I have always loved reading and writing. Once I saw the opportunity to be an intern who wrote curriculum for the organization, I knew I had to apply since it combined not only my love of reading and writing, but my love of working with kids and helping them love reading as well! Before my internship, I was a Read Aloud Reader to the K &1st group at my local boys and girl’s club for over a year and I loved it! Then I led the Adolescent Book Group sessions for 6-8th graders.
Is there a story you’d like to share about working with Words Alive?
It was such a joy to see how confident the kiddos became not just in their reading comprehension and listening skills, but their overall confidence in who they are. I witnessed so many students go from being shy and sitting in the back to moving to the front and making friends during activity time. Words Alive doesn’t just help kids with reading, Words Alive helps kids be themselves! It gives them space to grow.
What are you reading right now?
I’m reading Owls and Other Fantasies by Mary Oliver and Time and Materials by Robert Hass.
Any book recommendations?
Two of my favorite books to recommend are: The Wild Iris by Louise Glück and Thirst by Mary Oliver. For fiction lovers, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman.
Anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
Just how honored and grateful I am to have been selected as the Curriculum Writer of the Year. Working for Words Alive was truly such a dream come true. Out of all the volunteer work I’ve done, it was by far my favorite. I was able to be myself, fully, and have fun! I will cherish those memories my whole life. So THANK YOU!!