Community partnerships nurture love for reading in kids

Read With Me: The Community Reading Challenge seeks to motivate children to read
through good role models




Read With Me: The Community Reading Challenge seeks to motivate children to read
through good role models


To become successful readers, students need positive reading role models both in and outside the classroom. Increasingly, community members are stepping in to fill that role and support the work parents and teachers are doing to encourage children to read.


"Children become successful readers when they have tremendous support––from their families, their teachers and even their whole community," said Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental (RIF®). "At RIF, our hope is that community members across the nation will work to encourage and challenge children to read every day."


One way community members can get involved in promoting literacy is through Read With Me: The 2004 RIF Community Reading Challenge, presented by MetLife Foundation. The challenge, which takes place in 1,100 RIF sites across the country, seeks to motivate children to read by involving families, businesses and community members.


"Businesses have the opportunity to inspire children by connecting them with adults who love to read," said Sibyl Jacobson, president and CEO of Metlife Foundation. "MetLife is pleased to partner with RIF in building a corps of community volunteers who are helping to create a nation of lifelong readers."


Even if there is no RIF site nearby, a community can support reading using these tips:


For families:


•Read with your children for at least 10 minutes every day.


•Encourage older children to read whatever catches their interest––novels, comic books, magazines or anything else.


•Keep plenty of reading materials available in your home.


For businesses:


•Encourage your employees to volunteer with local literacy initiatives.


•Donate to RIF or other literacy programs in your area. Learn how at www.rif.org.


•Participate in your school district’s literacy activities and programming, such as the Community Reading Challenge.


•Promote local initiatives that support literacy.


For community groups:


•Volunteer with or support local after-school literacy sites. To volunteer at a RIF site near you, visit www.rif.org.


This story was provided by the North American Precis Syndicate.



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