Washington Receives Read First! Designation for Placing Greater Focus on Reading

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Washington Receives Read First! Designation for Placing Greater Focus on Reading

December 28, 2009

PROGRAM CONTACT:
Julie Douglas, Family Program Specialist »

The Missouri Humanities Council selects Washington as one of 10 communities state-wide for the Read First! program

WASHINGTON, MO –Washington is continuing to promote reading and literacy throughout the community with a renewed partnership with the Missouri Humanities Council’s Read First! program. For the second year, Washington has been designated one of 10 Read First! communities in the state.

Read First’s goal is to increase literacy by promoting awareness and participation in reading to babies, toddlers and preschoolers and appreciating the significance of storytelling in children’s lives. The partnership will provide resources to continue READ from the START programs for parents that began last year.

Literacy is more than reading traffic signs and decoding instructions. It also is the ability to engage the qualities of thought in a narrative, to imagine layers of possible meanings, to judge distinction and quality. Literacy is learned throughout one’s life, beginning at birth.

“Reading and telling stories to a young child is one of the most important things a parent can do to lay a foundation for the child’s future learning,” said Julie Douglas, Missouri Humanities Council family program specialist, “but family reading also does so much more than that, including strengthening and enriching the bond between a parent and child.”

Douglas said that by working to create a culture of family reading in the community, the number of children who are read to regularly by a caring adult will increase markedly.

Activities in the Washington area will include reading celebrations, the annual Family Reading Night, which will celebrate its 10th year on March 5, Read First! Workshops, Read from the Start programs and other creative activities through June 2010.

“We’re honored and excited to be a Read First! Community for the second year,” said Dawn Kitchell, Educational Service Director for the Washington Missourian and a member of the local Read First! committee. “Our community has always believed reading is an essential part of a child’s development, and we’re confident Read First! will help us continue our mission to create a community of readers.”

To learn more about Read First! in Washington, contact Kitchell at 636-932-4301 or Chris Stuckenschneider at 636-239-7272.