Building a mini-home library is fun and simple method anyone can use to encourage literacy and develop language fluency among their children – in any home. The concept will be one of the highlights demonstrated at Read On Greater Phoenix’s second literacy fair on Saturday, March 23, the first in a series of literacy fairs in the Balsz Elementary School District. Read On Greater Phoenix, United Way and the network of partners are committed to ensure that children read fluently by third grade. Media can join the fun visual event, where literacy experts will offer tours and demonstrate how anyone can design a mini-home library in any home, without spending a dime. Media will also be able to see other tips in action at the fair.
Families whose children attend Brunson-Lee Elementary School have been invited to the fair to learn how to incorporate literacy into their daily lives, and to receive books to help launch their mini-home libraries. Mini-home libraries can be developed using anything at a family’s fingertips – a couch and shelf of books, a basket with a book and cozy stuffed animal, or even a photo album to write and tell stories if there are no books at home. Several fun but easy to incorporate tips will be offered at the fair, from developing a mini-home library to storytelling and literacy activities that can make every day moments opportunities to enhance a child’s literacy. A series of simple, fun tips will be provided to all who attend that can be use by any parent to build strong literacy and language comprehension that is needed for children to learn in school.
WHEN: Open by Invitation to School Families
Saturday, March 23, 9 a.m. – noon; Best Media Times are 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Brunson-Lee Elementary School, 1350 N. 48th Street, Phoenix
Consider this:
• Reading to a child frequently helps build their language skills
• About 25 percent of Arizona fourth-graders are prepared to read proficiently, a skill required for all learning
• Children who are read to at least three times weekly are nearly twice as likely to score in top 25 percent in reading
WHAT: Read on Greater Phoenix Literacy Fair
The event will provide demonstrations of literacy tips in action using fun literacy games, arts and crafts as well as United Way’s School Readiness kits, reading and development assessments and information about local resources. Children will take home books collected in a book drive led by United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council and supported by community members, to help ensure they have a library at home.
About Valley of the Sun United Way:
Valley of the Sun United Way is working to advance the common good by focusing three community objectives: increasing financial stability of individuals and families, ending hunger and homelessness and ensuring children and youth succeed. For more information visit, www.vsuw.org
About Read On Greater Phoenix:
Read on Greater Phoenix is a network of community partners committed to strategies that advance literacy and success among children and youth in the greater Phoenix region. The network includes community education leaders and advocates: Valley of the Sun United Way, Mesa United Way Arizona Center for After School Excellence, Arizona Literacy and Learning Center, Arizona K-12 Center, Arizona Ready Education Council, Association for Supportive Child Care, ASU Preparatory Academy Literacy Center, Balsz Elementary School District, Children’s Action Alliance, City of Phoenix, City of Phoenix Libraries, City of Phoenix Human Services Department-Head Start Division, City of Phoenix Recreation, Educare Arizona, Everybody Wins AZ, Expect More Arizona, First Things First, Public Broadcasting System, Phoenix Elementary School District, Riverside Elementary School District, Stand for Children, Southwest Human Development, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust and Helios Education Foundation, a funding partner.
