- Community
- Families
- Schools
- Books
Communities
The powerful community component sets All District Reads apart from other reading programs. Local businesses and community groups, especially Rotary, participate actively. They provide financial support. They sponsor or participate in labeling events. They read recorded versions of the chosen book’s chapters that families can access. In some communities, posters promoting the activity adorn the windows of local businesses. During the three weeks or so that families are reading the book, reading becomes the hot topic of discussion across the entire community.
Families
Dozens of research studies emphasize the critical role that parents play in supporting their children’s education. All District Reads not only gets parents to take an active role in encouraging their children to love reading, but also can also spur parents to get more involved in other school activities. Furthermore, the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report notes that 92% of parents and 80% of kids agree that read-aloud is a special time for them to share together. Many families stop reading aloud once their children are able to read independently. All District Reads extends this valuable activity throughout the elementary years.
Schools
In today’s test-driven environment, schools place most of their instructional emphasis on the Virginia Literacy Act, which focuses on science of reading strategies. Because the All District Reads model emphasizes reading for pleasure, it provides a perfect complement to other school reading programs. “Families love that All Suffolk Reads establishes a regular time each evening to unplug and share a story together,” says Suffolk Public Schools Superintendent John B. Gordon III. “Teachers report that the program breaks up the monotony of the day and helps re-energize them.”
Books
Like any other skill, becoming a strong reader takes practice. The All District Reads model gets children excited about reading. Since many ADR programs involve books from a series, children often go on to read more books by the same author featuring the same characters. Also, since families all receive their own free copies of the chosen books, over time children build a collection of their very own books that they can read and re-read over and over again.
Communities + families + schools + books. Put them together, and you have a powerful model for promoting family literacy and student interest in reading. And that’s the beauty of All District Reads! Learn more about our programs here.