Care to Read

Care to Read is an emergent literacy program that works with staff at child care centers and family care homes throughout Palm Beach County to improve the literacy and language opportunities given to young children. 
The three components Care to Read delivers are:

  • Ongoing professional development opportunities for child care staff and visiting nurses
  • Donations of new, age-appropriate storybooks for classroom libraries
  • Distributions of new books for the children to select and keep

The professional development series begins with an introduction to emergent literacy for all new participants.  Subsequent sessions build on this information and become more tailored to address the teachers’ and child care site’s specific needs.  Some popular topics include strategies to generate interactive read-aloud sessions and developing children’s language, writing and literacy skills in active learning environments. 

2009-2010 Program Outcomes:

  • 73 workshops were presented on early childhood literacy to 364 participants.
  • 6,272 age appropriate books were placed in 95 child care libraries and 10 family child care homes.
  • 1,437 new, age appropriate board books were distributed to young children and their families in partnership with the Healthy Beginnings nurses. 
  • 3,237 books were distributed to more than 1,200 children through the Reading Is Fundamental program.

PROGRAM IMPACT

Our teachers enjoy the valuable literacy workshops that Care to Read provides based on current research and best practices. As a result of the trainings, the teachers are incorporating new activities and reading stories more often throughout the day. The children can be found in the library area reading books and have become more inquisitive about the classroom environment. The teachers and children thrive on the variety of books that are donated to each classroom library on a quarterly basis!

The Reading Is Fundamental book distribution days foster the children’s excitement for reading! The children delight in being read a story and choosing a book to take home. The children benefit from the books and the opportunity to make their selection and their families are able to experience the joy of book ownership and reading for pleasure at home.

In October, the children and staff attended the Literacy Coalition’s Read for the Record event and were delighted to hear stories read by local celebrities. Our teachers and children continue to enjoy the Care to Read Program and the partnership with the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County.

Mary Ellen Dolen
All About Kids Learning Center