By Linda Smith | Founder and President
In 1985 a US Department of Education Commission on Reading shared the results of 10,000 research projects done over 25 years to get at the core of what really works in terms of turning kids into skilled readers. Among its primary findings was this: "The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children." Notice they didn't single out Baby Einstein or flash cards, phonics, homework or worksheets. They discovered that reading aloud to children, both at home and at school -- even after they can read for themselves -- was the greatest predictor of success. I am encouraged by this finding because reading aloud to children is the core of our work in Guatemala. Kids love to be read to, and the more they associate reading with fun, the more they read. The more they read, the better they get at it. The better they get at it the more they like it...This is our engine for developing a culture of reading in Guatemala. So please (1) read to the children in your life and (2) continue supporting us as we encourage the same in impoverished communities where books are scarce and illiteracy is rampant. Thank you for all you do to bring the joy of reading to children!
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