WASHINGTON -- Learning can be tedious or fun.

A program called In2Books is helping make it fun by plugging in an online penpal to help students.

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Kids Get In2Books

At a fourth grade class at Brookland Elementary in Northeast Washington, students are discussing a book about the man who changed Puerto Rico.

It's one of many books used by In2Books to help engage young minds. A teacher guides what's going on, but there's an outside push from adult penpals who write to students about the books -- and their lives -- using the Internet.

"It's a way of connecting children and adults in a very busy world. It's online mentoring, but it's intellectual mentoring -- stimulating the mind -- and our penpals can participate at any time and any place so even the busiest adult can participate," In2Books founder Nina Zolt told News4's I.J. Hudson.

Zolt started the nonprofit In2Books to make it easier for busy people to become mentors using the Internet.

For privacy reasons, we can't show you a mentor, but their profiles are on a school bulletin board. Dede is a nurse and loves to read. Marty, just like kids, loves soccer and pizza.

Mentor letters talk about the assigned book, a little about themselves and ask what the student thinks. It's encouragement and the kids sharpen their reading and writing to reply.

In2Books provides guidance for both mentors and teachers, plus a little coaching on how to use the material.

Fourth-grade teacher Tonuia Jackson said the program works across the board.

"Not just the writing and reading, but just across the curricula -- science, social studies, language arts. To me, it seems to be easier because everything is put together. It's like you said, a one stop deal," Jackson said.

Brookland Principal Donna Pressley said In2Books is for all types of students.

"If a student doesn't quite get it, it gives them something to reach for. The student in middle can hone his skills. And for the student that's ahead, they just write novels and novels," Pressley said.

As for the students, they're sold.

"I really like books a lot more, because I really enjoy reading. I think it's very, very fun," one student said.

"At first, I didn't like reading or reading books, I only liked math. But ever since In2Books came along, I've been liking reading and math," another student added.

In2Books is now in 63 D.C. schools and a few in Chicago. It is a non-profit organization that's always looking for support.

It's an interesting program that could use more mentors to help more kids.