For decades, Reading is Fundamental has inspired kids across the country to pick up a book and read. Through this grant, RIF will be able to adopt its winning formula to the Information Age and harness new technologies to make better readers of Connecticut's kids.
Studies indicate that almost forty percent of fourth graders read below grade level.
Parents and teachers alike need training and education on how to motivate and the necessity of reading to children at an early age. To be an effective role model, adults need to read aloud and have them see them read. Teachers and parents must share with their students their own reading experiences, emphasizing how reading enhances and enriches their lives. Such training can make the difference in children's lives across every socioeconomic strata, but particularly among children of low-income families. Children from birth to age eleven from low-income families and families where English is spoken as a second language will be the primary focus of this project.