As we began to pull demographic information together for our grant proposals, the statistics revealed a critical issue. Not only are 31% of our children under 18 living below the poverty level, an alarming 83% of our elementary school students are reading below the proficiency level – a fact that exposed an urgent need for targeted intervention and support.
To begin to address this issue, we plan a Little Readers Initiative that will include:
- Several Little Free Libraries (LittleFreeLibrary.org) installed at strategic locations around our city.
- A Little Readers Program – starting with PreK and progressing into elementary schools – where we go into the schools, classroom by classroom, and gift each student with their own copy of the book we are going to explore that day. Instead of simply reading it to them from the front of the class, we let them take turns reading it to us. Parents are encouraged to participate so that we can model to them how they can help their children learn to read.
- An on-going encouragement program where students are rewarded for reading at home to their parents / guardians / siblings / anyone who will sit with them! Every time they reach a certain number-of-books-read, they get a prize. Classrooms who reach a certain level will receive a group prize, such as a pizza party.
Over the years, my professional experiences, educational training, and watching results play out right before my eyes – all rolled up together – gave me evidence to support what so many have said; one single person, taking even the smallest interest in a child’s life, can foster resilience and change the trajectory of that child’s future.
That lesson has guided and inspired me through the years; it is also what compels me today.