READY READERS

IN 2024-25, READY READERS SHARED THE JOY AND POWER OF LITERACY WITH MORE THAN 20,000 CHILDREN IN OUR REGION THROUGH WEEKLY STORYTIMES, NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. WE DISTRIBUTED 172,623 HIGH QUALITY NEW BOOKS TO CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND TEACHERS, A 21% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. WHILE OUR WORK IS ALWAYS CENTERED ON CHILDREN, IT IS POWERED BY VOLUNTEERS AND LITERACY CHAMPIONS; WE TRAINED AND SUPPORTED 279 VOLUNTEER READERS, 134+ WAREHOUSE VOLUNTEERS, AND 30 NEIGHBORHOOD READING CAPTAINS.THROUGH OUR STORYTIME PROGRAM, WE REACHED 16,948 CHILDREN IN 1,256 CLASSROOMS THROUGHOUT THE REGION. OUR VOLUNTEERS READ HIGH-QUALITY CHILDREN'S BOOKS EVERY WEEK FOR 30 MINUTES TO A CLASSROOM OF YOUNG CHILDREN, DESIGNED TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN EARLY LITERACY FOUNDATIONS, ENGAGE CHILDREN IN VALUABLE DISCUSSION EXPERIENCES, AND DEVELOP STRONG, TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH TRAUMA-INFORMED ADULTS.. THE READER VISITS THE SAME CLASSROOM AT THE SAME TIME EACH WEEK, FORMING STRONG BONDS WITH THE CHILDREN, THE TEACHERS, AND THE CENTER. IN ADDITION TO WEEKLY READING SESSIONS, EACH CHILD RECEIVES 7 HIGH-QUALITY, NEW BOOKS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. CLASSROOMS SELECT PROGRAMMING THAT BEST FITS THEIR NEEDS WHILE MOST CLASSROOMS REQUEST IN-PERSON VOLUNTEER READERS, SOME REQUEST VIRTUAL SESSIONS AND OTHERS REQUEST ONLY BOOKS AND CURRICULUM SUPPORTS. READY READERS ALSO GIVES CLASSROOM TEACHERS THE SAME 7 BOOKS, WITH STORY TIME ACTIVITIES TO INCORPORATE LITERACY THROUGHOUT THEIR CURRICULUM. READY READERS PROVIDES STATE-APPROVED, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS PARTICIPATING IN THE STORYTIME PROGRAM, AS WELL AS OTHER CENTERS AND LOCATIONS (EX: COMMUNITY COLLEGES, EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES, ETC.). ADDITIONALLY, READY READERS WORKS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO OFFER FREE, LITERACY-BASED FIELD TRIPS TO CLASSROOMS IN OUR STORYTIME PROGRAM. THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY WORK, READY READERS COLLABORATES WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND BEGAN THE NEIGHBORHOOD READING CAPTAINS PROGRAM IN 2023. NEIGHBORHOOD READING CAPTAINS LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THEY SERVE, AND ARE TRAINED AND COMPENSATED TO PROVIDE TRUSTED RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND EVENTS TO STRENGTHEN THE FOUNDATION OF LITERACY IN HOMES. READY READERS CURRENTLY HAS 30+ CAPTAINS SERVING 8 NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE REGION. AREAS OF SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO BE IDENTIFIED BASED ON NEIGHBORHOOD NEED, ASSETS, AND IN CONSULTATION WITH THE NRC ADVISORY COUNCIL.