To say that reading profiency is important to school success is an understatement. From Reach out and Read, an organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud: ”35% of American children arrive at kindergarten without the basic language skills they will need to learn to read. Those critical early literacy skills include recognizing the letters of the alphabet, understanding that books move from left to right, and being able to understand and tell stories.
Despite the billions of dollars Americans have invested in remedial reading programs, those millions of children who enter school unprepared are highly likely to never catch up. In fact, 88% of first graders who are below grade level in reading will continue to read below grade level in fourth grade. (Juel, 1988) And reading difficulty contributes to school failure, which increases the risk of absenteeism, dropping out, juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancy – all of which perpetuate the cycles of poverty and dependency.”
Read to or with your child every day! In the words of President Barack Obama, “In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework after dinner, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, and read to their child.” -Address to Joint Session of Congress, February 24, 2009
Get your kid started on the year’s reading! Check out the California Reading List put out by the California Department of Education here.
Micheltorena is getting a new library, thanks to the combined financial sponsorship of Councilmember Yolie Flores and the Wonder of Reading organization! We expect to break ground in September of 2010, with anticipated opening in early December. Stay tuned for more updates on construction and our grand opening celebration.
Get cozy with a book in our neighborhood libraries:
2411 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039 - (323) 913-7451
Mon. 10-6, Tue. Noon-8, Wed. 10-6, Thu. Noon-8, Fri. 1:30-5:30, Sat. 10-6, Sun. Closed
Cahuenga
4591 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90029 - (323) 664-6418
Mon. 10-6, Tue. Noon-8, Wed. 10-6, Thu. Noon-8, Fri. 1:30-5:30, Sat. 10-6, Sun. Closed
Atwater Village
3379 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90039 - (323) 664-1353
Mon. 10-6, Tue. Noon-8, Wed. 10-6, Thu. Noon-8, Fri. 1:30-5:30, Sat. 10-6, Sun. Closed
Echo Park
1410 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 - (213) 250-7808
Mon. 10-6, Tue. Noon-8, Wed. 10-6, Thu. Noon-8, Fri. 1:30-5:30, Sat. 10-6, Sun. Closed
Los Angeles Public Library Visit this very user-friendly online database of all the books in the Los Angeles Public Library system. Order a book online and pick it up at your local library! (You can also see a listing of all of your overdue books…)