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In schools today, 37% of children arrive at kindergarten without the skills necessary for a lifetime of learning[1], and more than 70% of kids in Fresno read below their grade level[2].
Studies have shown that active and informed parental involvement can transform and stimulate a child’s intellectual, language, motor and social development. Early reading helps boost a child’s brainpower, build self-confidence, expand general knowledge and improve thinking skills, placing a child on a path to life success.
The church can change the next generation of kids with people who are willing to step up.
Read With a Child
Take the time to read with a child. You don’t have to be the best tutor in the world or answer every question. Just spend time with them, and genuinely love and care for them.
Through Every Neighborhood Partnership (ENP), The Well has had strong relationships with Susan B. Anthony Elementary and Powers-Ginsburg Elementary schools for years. Their staff could always use more help so children can learn at their grade level.
Learn more about being a Literacy Mentor. Questions? Email info@everyneighborhood.org.
Give
Book Adventures is currently gearing up for their 2016 holiday book drive to help provide books and educational board games to children from low income neighborhoods. Many of us grew up with shelves packed full of books and games, but that is not the case for everyone.
Help provide these items to children who do not have personal libraries at home. Books can be new or gently used up to a sixth grade reading level. Find suggested books on the Book Adventures website.
Drop off your donations at your local campus from now until Sunday, December 11.
Interesting Literacy Facts
- Children growing up in homes with at least 20 books get three years more schooling than children from bookless homes, independent of their parents’ education, occupation and class.[3]
- Across the nation just under half of children between birth and 5 years (47.8%) are read to every day by their parents or other family members.[4]
- The most successful way to improve the reading achievement of low-income children is to increase their access to printed books.[5]
- Children from low-income families are at greater risk for entering school unprepared.[6]
- By the age of 2, children who are read to regularly display greater language comprehension, larger vocabularies, and higher cognitive skills than their peers.[7]
[1] Effective Early Childhood Programs: Turning Knowledge Into Action. Houston, TX: University of Texas, Health Science Center at Houston. 2005.
[2] California Department of Education along with the Fresno Unified Equity and Access Department.
[3] Evans, M. D., Kelley, J., Sikora, J., & Treiman, D. J. Family scholarly culture and educational success: Books and schooling in 27 nations. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, 28(2), 171-197. 2010.
[4] Russ S, Perez V, Garro N, Klass P, Kuo AA, Gershun M, Halfon N, Zuckerman B. Reading Across the Nation: A Chartbook: Reach Out and Read National Center, Boston, MA. 2007.
[5] Newman, Sanford, et all. “Americans Child Care Crisis: A Crime Prevention Tragedy”; Fight Crime; Invest in Kids, 2000.
[6] Lee, V. E. & Burkam, D. T. Inequality at the starting gate: Social background differences in achievement as children begin school. Washington, D.C.: Economic Policy Institute. 2002.
[7] Raikes, H., Pan, B.A., Luze, G.J., Tamis-LeMonda, C.S.,Brooks-Gunn, J., Constantine,J., Tarullo, L.B., Raikes, H.A., Rodriguez, E. “Mother-child bookreading in low-income families: Correlates and outcomes during the first three years of life.” Child Development, 77(4). 2006.