Last month I wrote about the importance of volunteering, and how volunteering helps us all feel like we’re part of making our community a wonderful place.
Today I bring you an idea to consider… a volunteering commitment that is rewarding for you, and impactful to others.
Here’s the idea: volunteer to read to kids.
I’ll share some ways you can do that in the Magic City in a moment.
First, I have to confess that it’s more than just an opportunity for you to feel good – though it definitely delivers on that front!
Do you remember a few months ago in this space I wrote about an important data point – 22.8% of our kindergarteners tested “demonstrating readiness” on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA).
That number is well below the state average – which is also low at just 36%.
The data prove that we have a literacy crisis amongst our youngest residents – the future leaders of our community.
Part of the explanation for this low readiness is that kids are not read to as much as they once were.
Perhaps COVID changed things, and fewer parents and grandparents read to their kids and grandkids now.
Perhaps it’s the age of technology that has changed things. After all, it’s far easier to hand a kid an iPad than read a book to them. It’s also hard to listen to a learning reader struggle as they sound out “sad” or “mad” or “glad.”
But the learning – the literal building of a brain – that happens when reading with a kid is the point of reading with them. Even if it starts as a struggle for them (and it will). After all, isn’t the struggle the point (and evidence) of learning? One study – conducted by The Ohio State University’s Crane Center for Early Childhood and Policy – proved that a 5-year-old child who is read to each day is exposed to nearly 300,000 more words than one who is not read to regularly. The more words you hear, the more words you know – the more your young brain is built! Another study conducted by the University of Rochester proved a link between being read to under the age of 5 boosts a child’s literacy as well as their ability – and desire – to learn starting in kindergarten. The ability to read is a strong indicator for success in school and later in life.
Here we are approaching the holidays, too! Kids will be home, visits are made to family, and many opportunities to read are available in the next few weeks!
If you don’t have kids at home or in town, you can still volunteer to read to kids! In fact, there are multiple ways.
Barberton Preschool and Barberton Primary both have “lucky listeners” who come in to read with kids… read to them and sometimes listen to them read. In fact, I just did this myself last week, and it was a great experience! Just call the office of the school and they’ll get you signed up.
Barberton Public Library also has the tools you need to read to kids! They have information on 1,000 books that are ideal for reading to kids before kindergarten. They also have a “kit” called “16 For Success” that is a book collection specifically to help parents understand which book helps build a specific skill your kid might need before kindergarten.
There are also free book programs, story time programs for specific ages and development stages, and more.
So, we have opportunities in our own home and family, in our school district with Barberton Preschool and Barberton Primary School.
We have the tools we need from Barberton Public Library.
The question is, do we have the motivation?
We know our youngest learning in our community need help building their reading skills. And, if you’re reading this, I know you can read!
Take your desire to help others and a spare hour to do the type of volunteering that makes you feel fulfilled and helps our youngest.
See you there!
In Community,
Josh Gordon
