.jpg?width=350&height=263&name=11.12.24_READ_West%20Riverside%20Storytime%20with%20Armstead%20Academic%20Project%20(8).jpg)
We are thrilled to share the success of our recent partnership with Armstead Academic Project! Their generous support made a significant impact as they sponsored and donated 230 books to students at West Riverside Elementary School.
Armstead Academic Project was founded by Jaguars player Arik Armstead and his wife Dr. Mindy Armstead in Sacramento, California in 2019. The Project provides youth with social-emotional and academic support to unlock their potential and achieve their goals.
Not only did they contribute to building young minds, but Arik also spent time reading to two elementary classes- sparking a love of reading in the hearts of the students.
.jpg?width=350&height=263&name=11.12.24_READ_West%20Riverside%20Storytime%20with%20Armstead%20Academic%20Project%20(6).jpg)
.jpg?width=350&height=263&name=11.12.24_READ_West%20Riverside%20Storytime%20with%20Armstead%20Academic%20Project%20(5).jpg)
It was an inspiring day to say the least and we are so grateful to AAP for their commitment to literacy and community engagement. We look forward to many more opportunities to collaborate. Thank you, AAP, for being such a powerful ally in shaping the future of our youth!
.jpg?width=350&height=307&name=11.12.24_READ_West%20Riverside%20Storytime%20with%20Armstead%20Academic%20Project%20(10).jpg)
A Small Gift, A Big Impact: Join the READ USA Book Club!
Did you join the READ USA Book Club yet?!
.png?width=250&height=333&name=Book%20Club%20(3).png)
.png?width=250&height=333&name=Book%20Club%20(8).png)
Every child deserves access to books: For only $30/month, Book Club members put free, high-interest books into children’s hands and hearts – and homes.
Many children in our community grow up without books at home. When children have access to quality books they want to read, they not only improve their ready ability but also enhance their overall academic and life success. As the saying goes “the more you read, the more you grow.” By joining the Book Club, you are opening doors to brighter futures, one book at a time.
.jpg?width=250&height=333&name=Book%20Club%20(2).jpg)
What’s a better way to kick off the holiday season than by putting books in kids’ hands?
By joining the READ USA Book Club, you make free books possible!
Join us to uplift literacy in our community through the Book Club. You are making a difference in the lives of thousands of students across Duval County and beyond!
Honoring Principal Katie Adkins of Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary
Last Tuesday we had the pleasure of celebrating Rutledge H. Pearson’s Principal Katie Adkins on the release of her Jeremy’s Journey Biography!
Friends and family gathered in the media center of the brand-new Rutledge H. Pearson School, which opened its newly constructed doors to students in 2023. We are so thankful for everyone who came out to honor our very own 2024 Peace in the Pages Marjorie Broward Award Winner. Principal Adkins’ leadership has been instrumental in shaping the success of our community.
In addition to celebrating Principal Adkins, the reception also provided a chance for guests to learn more about our Literacy Tutoring Program. Guests were escorted by the 5000 Role Models Group, a group of young men in 4th & 5th grade that are a part of a mentorship group, to the second floor to observe live tutoring in action!
The reception was a heartfelt celebration of the impact Principal Adkins has had on the lives of so many and continues to do so! A special thank you to Regional Superintendent Latrice Fann for the thoughtful introduction and remarks highlighting Principal Akins.
Thank you, Principal Adkins, for the legacy you continue to build and for being such a strong supporter of READ USA!
If you missed the event, you can still get a copy of Principal Adkins Volume for a $20 donation here.
Children’s Book: Maybe by Kobi Yamada
Illustrated by Gabriella Barouch
“Have you ever wondered why you are here?” asks the author. There is no one like you. Maybe you’re here to make a difference with your uniqueness; maybe you will speak for those who can’t or use your gifts to shine a light into the darkness. Maybe, encourages readers to follow their hearts and tap into their limitless potential to be anything and do anything. This quite read encourages children to reach for their untapped potential while reminding them it won’t be easy – they will make messes and mistakes – but the magic within can help overcome falls and failures.
Written by New York Times best-selling author Kobi Yamada, this is a story for everything you will do and everything you can be. It’s a story about all the possibilities ahead of you. It’s for who you are right now and it’s for all the magical, unbounded potential you hold inside. With its beautiful visual storytelling and timeless message, Maybe is an inspiring story for kids of all ages.
Submitted by Kathi Hart, READ USA Lead Content Teacher
Parent Education Corner: Tips for Supporting Your Child with Fluency
Fluency is defined as the ability to read with accuracy, good speed, and appropriate expression. Children who do not read with fluency sound choppy and awkward when reading aloud. Those children may have trouble with decoding skills, or they may just need more practice with speed and smoothness in reading. Fluency is also important for motivation; children who find reading laborious tend not to want to read! As children get older, fluency becomes increasingly important. Students whose reading is labored will have trouble meeting the reading demands of their grade level.
How to help?
- Support and encourage your child. Realize that he or she is likely feeling frustrated by reading.
- Read aloud to your child to provide an example of how fluent reading sounds.
- Provide your child books with predictable vocabulary and clear rhythmic patterns so the child can “hear” the sound of fluent reading as he or she reads the book aloud. (Books to build fluency: Pete the Cat, Green Eggs and Ham, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day).
- Let your child read their favorite books and poems over and over again. Have them practice getting smoother and reading with expression.
- If your child can decode words well, help him or her build speed and accuracy by:
- Reading aloud and having your child match his or her voice to yours
- Having your child practice reading the same list of words, phrase or short passage several times
- Reminding your child to pause between sentences and phrases
Submitted by Kathi Hart, READ USA Lead Content Teacher
Do you have any questions or ideas for the Parent Education Corner? Anything you’d like to learn? Let us know here!