Economist says early childhood education makes sense!

A must read! 

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-grade/general-news/2009/10/federal-economist-says-early-childhood-education-makes-sense/

BookSpring programs support early literacy through Reach Out and Read, Parent Book Clubs, Read Aloud trainings with our non-profit partners!

BookSpring Bookclubs are Amazing! Listen to this story-

Lili Cantu conducts Parent Bookclubs at local elementary schools on behalf of BookSpring. Parents are invited to meet in the morning before school  to discuss and share children’s books.  Lili has been offering incentives for parents to visit the local library- at Blanton Elementary parents meet and over 60% have visited the local public library for the very first time- one family even had to be “kicked out” at closing time!

One mother recently told this story: Parents were asked to find books about numbers at the library. One mother checked out M&M’s Counting Book.  The daughter is evidently very shy and her teacher thought she was behind in Math. So… the mother taped her daugher reading the M&M book and then showed the teacher that indeed her daughter does know her numbers!

A great example of empowering parents to advocate for their children- through the power of literacy!

Find the Read-A-Thon on KXAN News and Mix 94.7!!!

Thanks KXAN News and Mix 94.7 for joining the BookSpring Read-A-Thon!

With two of the best, everyone will be talking about BookSpring!

BookSpring and Dell BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! Teachers are you ready?

 

Dell Inc. has generously donated a Dell Latitude 2100 to  the 2010 Read-A-Thon.

Teachers promoting community service, literacy through the BookSpring Read-A-Thon  will have an opportunity to win the Dell laptop.  A raffle ticket will be awarded for every 5 student pledge envelopes submitted to BookSpring. A winner will be announced on March 6, 2010 at BookPeople.

Remember $5 buys two books and helps place books into the hands of children!

Did you know that the ratio of age appropriate books in a low-income neighborhood is 1 to 300 while the ratio is 13 books to 1 child in a corresponding middle class neighborhood?

Teachers start planning and thinking of ways to inspire your students to participate 2010 Read-A-Thon! You and your students can make a difference!

Thank you Dell!

Garza High Students Shine in BookSpring Video!

Garza High students were taped today for the BookSpring PSA and Read-A-Thon video. I had the pleasure of visiting with some really incredible kids today. Chelsea is an inspiration- AJ is funny and going places in the world of gaming! Vivian is made for the camera, Kim- I know will shape the word with her words and Matt will master the world and own his own business!

These kids were patient and giving of their time. Each willing to spread the BookSpring message- Read to your kids! Share books with your kids! Put your child on your lap and share a book!

Thanks Dr. Webb and Mrs. Friday for sharing your fabulous students!

Sylvan Learning Shares the “Magic of Reading” with RIF at Andrews Elementary

Andrews Elementary had a special guest visitor for RIF week today. Gabby, from Central Sylvan Learning was just as puzzled by Staci Golman’s magic tricks as the kids were! We are still trying to figure out how the ball traveled across the room so quickly.

The magic, however, was in the kids’ faces as they chose their new books to take home. One child was especially pleased when told he would be moving classes and needed to select a book in English- he took special care to pick the right book- Rikki-Tikki-Tavi what a great story!

Thanks Gabby- I know they loved Sylvester and the Magic Pebble!

Students Choose Brand New Books during RIF Week!

Leah Davies selects books for RIF week!

Did you know that 61% of low-income families

have no age-appropriate books AT ALL in their homes?

BookSpring brings the Reading Is Fundamental Books for Ownership program to 28 Austin elementary schools 3 times each year.

BookSpring arrives at an elementary library with crates of brand new books.  Students enjoy a motivational activity and are allowed time to walk around and check out the books choices.  Leah Davies, RIF Program Manager, and volunteers carefully select quality and age-appropriate books for RIF collections.

Students select a book of their choice, write their name in their brand new book and often sneak off into a corner to read.

How great is that?

S-Collective and TyRex collaborate on BookSpring Video

S-Collective  http://s-collective.com/ and TyRex http://www.tyrexmfg.com/ are collaborating with BookSpring to create a public service announcement. The BookSpring PSA will address the serious literacy crisis facing the Austin community and we are grateful for their expertise and time!

Did you know 75% of adults are completely unaware that 61% of low-income families do not have any age appropriate books in their homes?

Thanks S-Collective and TyRex- your time and hard work will make a difference! We have a lot of work to do!

TyRex is also a sponsor of Recognize Good http://www.recognizegood.com/

Scholastic and Gatti’s Pizza Support the Read-A-Thon

 BookSpring is thrilled to announce Austin’s  very own Gatti’s Pizza and Scholastic Books will sponsor the 2010 Read-A-Thon!

Gatti’s and Scholastic are original sponsors of the Read-A-Thon and have supported the community event since the very first RIF Read-A-Thon in 2003! Scholastic awards class sets of books to a classroom on each participating campus and Gatti’s honors a class with a PIZZA PARTY!!

Thanks Gatti’s and Scholastic for all you do for Austin children and literacy!!!