Books and tapes will be made available for lending to students in grades K-2 at WPS and to children enrolled in the Head Start program in the city of Danbury, Connecticut. Additional preschool sites with Spanish speaking participants can be included. The project represents an innovative approach to language and reading development for a variety of reasons. Learning a second language. Child to child.
Children are naturally interested in other children.
The project unites children from a predominantly middle class suburban community with children from a more urban and economically diverse community. Each contributes to the other on an equal basis. This strengthens awareness and mutual respect. The expansion will lead to a wider variety of reading materials for students at Washington Primary School, increased appreciation of cultural differences and access to quality literature in both English and Spanish for preschool children from low income families. Additional funding from local foundations, area corporations and businesses, Head Start and school districts will be sought to expand the reach of the program.