Encouraging Reading At Home Through Book Bag Program

Julie Allen, first grade teacher at East Somerville Community Schools in Unidos Program, was awarded a grant for her books and book bags program to encourage her students to read at home and empower parents to effectively support their children's reading development.  The program was initiated with a well attended kick off party in which parents were shown various reading strategies that they could use at home with their children.  Students decorated tote bags that they would use to transport packs of books to be read at home each week.  Students also decorated bookmarks to remind them and their family members of strategies they could use when they encountered unfamiliar words.  After that, students then were given tote book bags with literacy materials as well as books in English and Spanish to read with their families at home.  Ms. Allen reports that students having the students reading at home with their families helped these young scholars make significant growth and progress in their reading skills throughout the year.

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