Parents of preschool and kindergarten children are invited to participate in a new literacy program in March called Raising School-Ready Readers at the First United Methodist Church in Perry.
Families who attend will be able to participate in a fun and educational activities and enjoy an evening as a family. This program is free to participants because of generous donations from the Bock Foundation, Hispanics United for Perry (HUP) and ISU Extension and Outreach in Dallas County.
Several families in Dallas County have participated in the Family Storyteller program, where parents learned the basics of how to read to their young children and to help them learn. The outcomes have been positive.
“The Raising School-Ready Readers program takes it to the next level, by encouraging parents to use daily activities to engage their children in literacy play and have fun,” said Rosa Gonzalez, human sciences specialist in family life with Dallas County Extension.
Why focus on developing children’s literacy skills? Research shows that good literacy skills have a long-term impact on a child’s development. Reading proficiency by third grade is the most important predictor of high school graduation and career success. This program gives parents the opportunity to invest in their child’s future by investing in literacy now.
Parents know that it is important for their kids to know how to read, but it can be really hard to help young children develop the skills they need to learn to read. Knowing what to teach them, how to teach them or having the extra time to teach them can be a challenge for parents. That is what is so great about this new program, Raising School-Ready Readers, which focuses on how parents can teach their children the skills they need to learn to read by using opportunities in everyday life.
ISU Extension and Outreach in Dallas County, in collaboration with HUP, the Perry Public Library and the First United Methodist Church, will offer the Raising School-Ready Readers program in March. Parents interested in learning more about the program can watch for flyers, check the Dallas County Extension Facebook page or contact the Extension office at 515-993-4281.
