Being a “Ball Hawk” on the professional football field, a voracious reader with a large library at home, and a soon-to-be-published children’s book author all sound synonymous, right?
Well, to Jacksonville Jaguars Linebacker Caleb Johnson (and to us!), they most certainly are. Many may not know the intense studying and reading that is required of a professional football player, but it is a part of the job that Caleb has been preparing for since he was a toddler – well before he even picked up a football.
Watch Caleb share how he got started with reading at a young age – and some of the first books that he picked up:
Caleb is our 2024 READ to Succeed Award Honoree who will be recognized with six other award honorees at the upcoming Peace in the Pages in Honor of Roseann Duran luncheon on Oct. 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at EverBank Stadium. You can read more about the event here.
Learn more about Caleb Johnson and READ USA’s recently published Jeremy’s Journey book about him here!
Attendance to Peace in the Pages is currently a benefit to our generous donors who support READ USA at $1,000 a year or more. You can become a READ USA sponsor here or by contacting Sydney King, READ USA Development Senior Director, at sydney@readusainc.com.
An Inspirational Visit with Chris Singleton
Last week, members of the READ USA team had the opportunity to hear directly from an incredible human, inspirational speaker, author, entrepreneur, and former pro athlete, thanks to the invitation from our friends at Goodwill Industries of North Florida.
Photo above and in newsletter email are courtesy of Goodwill Industries of North Florida.
Goodwill invited Chris Singleton to Jacksonville to discuss his newly released book, Stories Behind Stances, a copy of which was provided to everyone in attendance. The premise of his book is how our experiences form our stances, and that there are two sides to every conflict.
“Chris shared how a lot of folks would probably not choose to hate if someone would have shown them love,” reflected Sydney King, READ USA’s Development Senior Director, who attended with our team. “At the beginning, he made everyone stand up, hug someone nearby who ‘doesn’t look like you,’ and tell them you love them… It was a very powerful presentation, and he is a phenomenal speaker. I’ve already begun reading his new book.”
As his book posits, Chris’s perspective and stances have been informed by his own experiences. His mother, who he called his hero, was one of nine victims who lost their lives in the racially motivated mass shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 17, 2015, in Charleston, South Carolina. During his speech, Chris talked about the five numbers he lives by: one person, shot 70 rounds inside of a church; 50 rounds went into human bodies, killing 9 people… and one of them was his mom.
“He talked about the boy who went in there, how he wanted to start a racial war – but instead it brought the people of Charleston closer together,” added King. “They rallied behind the victims and their families and became stronger for it…because they had so much love for each other.”
In addition to writing Stories Behind Stances, Chris Singleton is also a children’s book author, further sharing his messages of love, acceptance, and understanding in ways that the next generation can learn and understand:
READ USA is profoundly grateful for the opportunity to hear from and meet with Chris Singleton, and we are thankful to Goodwill Industries of North Florida CEO and President David Rey for the invitation to attend. Our team members look forward to reading Stories Behind Stances – and, of course, his children’s books, too!
You can read more about Chris Singleton on his website here and you can search for his books on Amazon here.
“This was a wonderful resource for the community.”
READ USA’s Literacy Director Judy Howard hit the road last week to host Family Literacy Workshops at several Jacksonville Public Library branch locations across Duval County. While our team always enjoys these opportunities to meet and empower families, the feedback we sometimes hear is food for our soul!
Our Family Literacy Workshops provide a hands-on learning experience for parents and caregivers to learn engaging ways to help children build their reading skills at home. We also provide free resources, reading activity guides, and – naturally – free books!
We were elated that the director of the Episcopal Early Learning Center attended and shared how she plans to use the strategies she learned in her coaching practice with teachers. Her daughter also attended, who is a former READ USA teen tutor! Now in college, she shared how she attended the workshop to learn new strategies for supporting students, and that, “I learned important information that will help a child that is confusing his letters! I was trying to teach all of the letters at the same time, making it more confusing. I will correct that immediately!”
We just love the passion for learning and teaching that is inherent in our READ USA teen tutors! We are ALL lifelong learners, readers, and leaders!
A teacher who is homeschooling her three- and five-year-old children also attended and gleaned new insights. “I will be using the Dolch and Frye word list to practice sight words with my children, and I will definitely use more nursery rhymes to promote rhyming. This was refreshing and a wonderful resource for the community.”
Team READ USA will be scheduling more Family Literacy Workshops in the future and will share those dates when scheduled. We are grateful for all of the parents and caregivers who join us for these events – and most importantly for their desire to learn new skills to improve their loved ones’ reading skills in the home. For that, we applaud you!
Stay tuned for future dates, and thank you to our friends at the Jacksonville Public Library and Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) Federal Programs for your ongoing partnership and support!
Paid Positions for Teachers: Apply Today!
Teachers are vital to the implementation of READ USA’s Literacy Tutoring program, which kicks off in just a couple weeks at 15 Duval County elementary schools!
To support our teen tutors and the program during the upcoming semester, READ USA is hiring educators for essential roles.
If you or anyone you know is looking for an opportunity to work more closely with students, earn some extra cash, and be a part of improving elementary students’ lives through literacy, hurry up and apply today!
Teacher Positions: Only Five Remaining!
Teachers supervise and coach the delivery of high-quality reading lessons in the Literacy Tutoring program using high-interest books with supportive lesson plans and phonics materials. READ USA teen tutors receive intensive training and skill development to implement the lessons, while teachers oversee, coach, and guide tutors in lesson delivery. Details include:
- $35/hour for up to nine hours a week
- Tuesday-Thursday after school from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. from August to December
- One position is available at each of the following elementary schools:
- Lake Lucina Elementary School
- Long Branch Elementary School
- Mamie Agnes Jones Elementary School
- Ramona Boulevard Elementary School
- Westview K-8
Aftercare Teacher Positions
Aftercare Teachers play a crucial role managing the READ USA aftercare room(s) at elementary schools where Literacy Tutoring occurs. The main responsibility is to monitor and provide guidance to elementary students awaiting their tutoring session each day. Details include:
- $35/hour for up to nine hours a week
- Tuesday-Thursday after school from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. from August to December
For more information about each position and to apply, visit readusainc.com/apply.
Children’s Book: The Day You Begin, by Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrated by Rafael Lopez
The Day you Begin is a touching back-to-school story that packs a powerful message. It is about finding courage to connect with others, even when you feel scared and alone.
There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it’s how you look or talk, or where you’re from; maybe it’s what you eat, or something just as random. It’s not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it.
Jacqueline Woodson’s lyrical text and Rafael López’s stunning art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes – and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway. Woodson explains that the day you truly begin living is the day that you realize that even though you may be different from everyone else, once you find the courage to share your story, the world will create the space for you that you deserve.
Submitted by Kathi Hart, Tutoring Program Content Specialist
Parent Education Corner: Talk, Read, and Sing Together Every Day – Asking Questions
We are continuing our topic on creating a language-rich environment for your child. This week our focus is asking questions to increase the amount of time we spend on back-and-forth conversations. These conversations are critical for closing the “word gap.”
Asking stimulating and developmentally appropriate questions can help boost the language environment. Below are four strategies for extending conversations with questions.
Ask children about what they are doing.
- What are you working on today?
- You are working very hard, tell me about your project.
- What are your plans for these materials?
Ask children to make predictions.
- What do you think will happen next?
- What else could we use this container for?
- What would you do if that were you?
Ask children to provide explanations.
- Why do you think that happened?
- How can I help solve the problem?
- How did you do that?
Ask children to connect learning to their own lives.
- What does this remind you of?
- These blocks are blue – what blue objects do you have in your room?
- The boy in the story loved his pet hamster. How do you feel about your new pet fish?
For children with limited language, giving them a choice can help them respond more easily to questions. For example, “did you use crayons or markers to draw that picture?”
Keep high expectations for all children and gradually increase the complexity of your questions as children progress in their development.
Submitted by Kathi Hart, READ USA Content Specialist
From Too Small to Fail, Center for Early Literacy Learning
Do you have any questions or ideas for the Parent Education Corner? Anything you’d like to learn? Let us know here!