High Point University’s Ruby Esposito, a junior nonprofit leadership and management and education studies double major, created “Reading with Ruby” on YouTube for children.
HIGH POINT, N.C., April 20, 2020 – When the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact the nation, Ruby Esposito, a High Point University junior, decided that it wouldn’t deter her from finishing her student-teaching internship at Fairview Elementary School.
In just a few weeks, Esposito has launched “Ready with Ruby,” a YouTube channel where she reads her favorite childhood books to children who tune in. Parents and children are encouraged to access the “Reading with Ruby” channel by clicking here.
Esposito is from Byram, New Jersey, and she is double majoring in education studies and nonprofit leadership and management. Even though the pandemic has caused both her and Fairview Elementary School students to transition to online learning, she is continuing to teach local children and complete her internship through “Reading with Ruby.”
“Ruby wanted to continue to give back to her students and supervising teacher, so we put our heads together and came up with a YouTube channel to ensure students have access to books and the opportunity to practice their reading comprehension skills,” says Dr. Allie Blosser, assistant professor of education and internship coordinator. “Ruby also connects the skills she is teaching to our North Carolina State Standards as a way of supporting teachers.”
So far, Esposito has picked her favorite childhood books to read to the viewers.
“I enjoyed reading these books growing up, and there are messages that can be learned through each of the books that I choose to read,” says Esposito. “I hope these lessons can be applied to the children viewing these videos.”
“The hope is that teachers will share the channel with their students and parents can use the channel to support at-home learning,” says Blosser. “I couldn’t be more proud of Ruby and her passion for teaching. She embodies everything we look for in a future educator.”