Reading readiness skills are very important for a child’s future educational success. They give kids the skills to grasp the foundations of language and words and to turn them into ideas and concepts in all other subjects. One of the most important elements in reading readiness is showing students that reading can be fun. It is not all work and no play!
I recently learned about a great opportunity to take the books you are already reading with your kids and students and make them even more meaningful and powerful.
The Early education program KinderCare is spreading the message that reading to young children is a vital tool in building reading readiness skills among young learners. The book-share initiative “Read. Share.Give.” was started to increase the availability of age-appropriate books for families of young children. Every family that attends KinderCare can register for the program and will receive a book which they can then read to their children. Afterward, the family passes the book on to another family member, neighbor or friend. KinderCare tracks the books with tracking numbers and encourages each family to continue the process of sharing the books.
KinderCare, in conjunction with the co-founder of its parent company Knowledge Universe, developed a unique project of book sharing in 2011. This program aims to ensure that families have access to books which they can read to their children and prepare the children to become competent, and later, independent readers.
The program "Read. Share. Give". has already shared 15,070 books! Each share triggers a donation from Knowledge Universe which enables the program to buy more books and expand reading opportunities.
I found this quote from the co-founder, Lowell Milken, that I believe is especially meaningful:
It's our job as educators and Americans to look out for the future and help kids everywhere have access to reading materials. How can you help? If you have a book that you would like to donate, just go to the Read.Share.Give website and generate a label that you can place inside the book and then just pass it on!! Our country will thank you later!
