Written by: Jackie Glaser - Prairie Rose Elementary Title 1 Teacher
When searching for a reading intervention program for our After-School Program, I luckily came across an amazing reading website, Unite for Literacy. I was surprised to find that the digital books on the site are free to read, with many having the option to read in English or Spanish! Another great feature is hearing the story narrated in several different languages, even American Sign Language.
Title 1 programs provide funding to supplement educational opportunities for students and promote parent and family engagement. Reading success begins at home, and Unite for Literacy’s goal is for children to access an abundance of books that celebrate their languages and cultures.
In looking at their products for a Home Library Subscription, I was amazed to read that you could receive thirty-two books in 8 weeks at the cost of only $56.00! This led to thinking how great it would be to do that for some of our students. My first thought then went to the DPS Foundation Grants, which our principal, Nicole Weiler, encouraged us to pursue. The grant application was an easy process for us to complete and a unique request to be considered. We aimed high and requested funding for sixteen weeks for a total of 64 books at the cost of only $112.00 for each family. We were successful!!
Along with my fellow Title 1 teachers at Prairie Rose Elementary, Karla Larson and Amy Shobe, we received the grant to award students in grades 1 and 2 a FREE Home Library Subscription for 16 weeks! The Home Library Subscription is a unique book distribution and family engagement program to build home libraries and inspire families to read together every day. Our students will receive weekly packets of four books, an English text or English/Spanish option, and a family literacy tip card to encourage families to read together at home.
Our project’s major goal is to provide families access to books so that their children will develop a daily habit of reading to become life-long readers. Daily reading with children develops the foundation for success in all curricular areas, a love of learning, and social and emotional connections. When parents read with their children daily, their relationship is enriched. They can use these moments to build their vocabulary and create a foundation for their child’s learning experience.
We want to thank the DPS Foundation for granting our proposal for our students. One of our goals is always to instill a love of reading and make reading a daily habit. We used the following quote from Jacqueline Kennedy in our grant application, “There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of (good) books is the best of all.”
If you would like to check out their website, Unite for Literacy, here is the link: https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/