What is a Raising Readers Parent Club?
Raising Readers Parent Clubs (RRPC) are designed to encourage parents' participation in their children's literacy development. RRPCs are comprised of 6 to 8 one-hour sessions that emphasize the importance of reading to children and provide parents with a variety of strategies and literacy activities that make reading with their children both enjoyable and beneficial. At each meeting, families receive a free, carefully-selected children's book and hear it read aloud. RRPCs provide an opportunity for families to share not only their concerns about reading to their children, but also their pleasurable experiences.
Where are Clubs held?
Clubs take place is a variety of places including libraries, family support centers, child care programs, elementary schools, and hospital waiting rooms. Beginning with Books staff work with the host site to identify a day and time that is most convenient for parents.
Documented outcomes include:
- Increases in home storybook reading
- Increased library use
- Strong and more consistent communication between parents and children
- Greater enthusiasm for reading
Facilitator Training
Beginning with Books provides training to professionals or paraprofessionals to replicate its Raising Readers Parent Clubs. Our intensive two-day session encompasses the latest research about emergent literacy, a selection of quality children's books, and field-proven suggestions for working effectively with parents from a range of income levels and literacy skills. Past participants include childcare providers, teachers, parents, and social workers.
For more information, please contact Pamela Little.