Can we hear a “DUUUVAL!” for the students at Guardian Catholic School?!
So many students, beaming with pride, donned their Jacksonville Jaguars attire during yesterday’s Literacy Locker Room at Guardian Catholic School in the Brentwood neighborhood. And even though Jaxson de Ville couldn’t make this one, the students – especially the older ones – brought Jaxson’s signature energy! (It’s almost as if they watch him every Sunday?!)
And of course: every student went home with some Jags swag and two FREE books, courtesy of Florida Blue!
Jaguars Defensive End Arik Armstead #91 joined the fun alongside members of the ROAR of the Jaguars and read aloud two books to two assemblies of students. He also shared his own struggles with reading as a child and why reading is so vitally important, no matter what you do in life – even playing football!
We are thankful for Arik and his nonprofit organization, the Armstead Academic Project, for shining such a genuine spotlight on literacy! (Also, #ICYMI, we partnered with the Armstead Academic Project at West Riverside Elementary School a few weeks ago for another read aloud and book distribution event!)
READ USA is grateful to Florida Blue for sponsoring the Guardian Catholic Literacy Locker Room yesterday and to Bri Kempf and other team members from Florida Blue for attending and supporting! Our immense gratitude also to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation for creating the Literacy Locker Room events and their ongoing partnership. Team READ USA also extends a special thank-you to Adriel Rocha, Vice President of Community Impact and Football Development, and Michael Carnahan, Jaguars Foundation Community Impact Manager, for their ongoing support of READ USA and Literacy Locker Rooms.
Thank you to our incredible community partners for continuing to help make these FREE book events possible!
Congratulations, Duval Schools!
Team READ USA extends a hand-clapping and arm-pumping congratulations to Duval County Public Schools!
As Jax Today reported earlier this week, DCPS has been named a “System of Distinction” by Cognia, the organization that reaccredited the school district earlier this year. Presented during the DCPS School Board meeting last month, the reasons Cognia gave included DCPS’s “focus on excellence in curriculum
design and implementation, along with the strategic use of data analytics.”
We particularly love – and 100% echo – DCPS Chief Academic Officer Paula Renfro’s remarks: “To not only receive accreditation but also be recognized by Cognia as a ‘System of Distinction’ is a testament to the dedication of our administrators and educators to excellence and continuous improvement,” she said.
Team READ USA has been proud to serve the students of Duval County alongside DCPS and also add capacity to the district’s efforts to close the literacy gap. From what we see in elementary schools across Duval County, day in and day out, this distinction is a well-deserved public recognition of a truly dedicated and exceptional team of administrators, educators, and support staff!
Congratulations to Duval County Public Schools, the DCPS School Board, DCPS senior leadership – and most importantly the teachers and educators who dedicate themselves every day to our students!
Here’s How to Give Books this Holiday Season
Team READ USA was recently asked, “how can I spread joy through books this holiday season?”
Well, the answer is simple: Join the READ USA Book Club!
For only $30 a month, you are directly giving two children, two books, every month. At READ USA, we do free book events year-round – which you help make possible by joining the Book Club!
Many children in low-income homes have zero books at home and they lack the means to purchase books. This is precisely why READ USA provides book choice and ownership to children year-round. With no books of choice to enjoy and practice their reading skills, they are more apt to fall behind – and like they say, the more you read, the better you get!
Through the Book Club, your monthly support has a direct impact on the lives of young readers.
Children’s Book: Oh No, The Aunts are Here by Adam Rex
Illustrated by Lian Cho
Every family has its special aunt: the cool aunt, the wacky aunt, the scary aunt. But this family has ALL THE AUNTS. They’ve traveled on planes, in taxis, and across state lines. And now they’re here at the doorstep, a cheesy gift in one hand, the other poised for a pinch on the cheek.
One girl’s all-too-recognizable experience—a visit from a troupe of overwhelming and overly enthusiastic relations—soars to new heights of bedlam, silliness, and delight in a laugh-out-loud take on family reunions. Written with signature humor by Adam Rex and illustrated by Lian Cho, this picture book is a celebration of the universal and endearing strangeness of family.
During the holiday season, this is the perfect read for those who need time to warm up to visitors. This book shows how relatives bring both fun and chaos into the lives of young children. Even for families with “normal” aunts or no aunts at all, the quirky situations this character faces, and the ways her aunts save the day, will delight any child reader.
Submitted by Kathi Hart, READ USA Lead Content Teacher
Parent Education Corner: Developing Literacy
What is literacy? Literacy is being able to read, write, listen, speak, and create texts in ways that allow you to communicate well with others.
Before children can learn to read and write, they need to develop the building blocks for literacy: the ability to speak, listen, understand, watch, and draw. And as they get older, they need to learn about the connection between letters on a page and spoken sounds.
For this to happen, children need plenty of experience with:
- Pictures and objects – how you can use words to talk about them
- Letters and words – how they look and sound, and what they are called
- Sounds – how words can rhyme, begin and end with the same letters, and be broken up into parts like syllables
You can help with all these areas of your child’s early literacy development by:
- Talking and communicating with your child
- Reading books together
- Playing with rhyme and other sounds with your child
Plus, the great news is that you can do this in ways that are fun for both of you!
Over the next few weeks, the Parent Corner will provide fun activities to help your child’s literacy development. Stay tuned!
Submitted by Kathi Hart, READ USA Lead Content Teacher
Source: raisingchildren.net.au
Do you have any questions or ideas for the Parent Education Corner? Anything you’d like to learn? Let us know here!