Let’s Read campaign encourages King County parents and children to read together over the summer months.
SEATTLE / SOUTH KING COUNTY – As King County area schools prepare for summer break a new effort is being launched to prevent summer reading loss. Let’s Read is a campaign encouraging parents and children to read together over the summer months and being led by the King County Library System, Seattle Public Libraries, United Way of King County, Community Center for Education Results and many other companies and organizations.
Let’s Read plays an important role in a regional proposal submitted by the cities of Seattle, Auburn, Burien, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, SeaTac and Tukwila that was recently selected as a finalist for the All-America City Award, sponsored each year by the National Civic League. The plan aims to ensure more children in Seattle and South King County are reading by the end of third grade.
This work is critical and drawing community-wide support because students who don’t read over summer vacation can lose months of learning and start the next school year off behind their peers. Parents and caregivers can help prevent summer reading loss and get kids off to the right start next school year with simple, free activities.
“Putting kids together with books and reading is crucial to their ability to read and learn throughout their lives,” said Bill Ptacek, director of the King County Library System. “Local libraries, school districts and community partners have come together to insure that all kids in our community are a part of that bright future.”
Let’s Read offers tips, local activities and events, and much more. Some tips for parents and caregivers include finding the right level of books at the library, sounding words out, and asking questions about the story.
“It’s never too early to start reading to children. Studies show that the younger we can get kids interested and eager to read, the better their academic development,” said Renton Mayor Denis Law. “The local library is a great place for families to find ways to support early literacy. Plus, libraries hold many free and fun reading activities for kids all summer long.”
Let’s Read resources are available on the Let’s Read website and offered in a variety of languages including Amharic, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrigna, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.
The Community Center for Education Results is supporting Let’s Read as part of its Road Map Project, which aims to double the number of students in South Seattle and South King County who are on track to graduate with a college degree or career credential by 2020.
To learn more about Let’s Read, find tips, events and resources visit letsreadkingcounty.org.
Posted in: Expanded Learning Opportunities , Family Engagement