Children often imitate adults. And a grown-up taking time out of his or her busy schedule once a month to read to children can have a lasting effect, not only on the youth but also on local communities.
That’s the idea behind the Begin with Reading Program, which is hosted by Altrusa International of Greenwood and the Leflore County Mississippi State University Extension Service.
On Sept. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m., the Leflore County Extension Office, located on 309 West Market St., will hold training for volunteer readers for the program.
“We are fortunate to have the Begin With Reading program in our area preschools; however, we currently do not have enough volunteer readers to fill each classroom,” said Becky McCabe, Altrusa literacy chairwoman. “We want this program to continue, and we’d love more volunteers to read to the children. It’s a really good feeling when you go read, and the children enjoy it.”
Begin With Reading, founded in 1995, was designed as an early intervention program for children to establish literacy as a value in homes, enhance the educational quality of area child care facilities and improve future school performances.
“We are proud of all efforts made by the program and its volunteers,” said Jennifer Russell, child and family development agent for the Leflore County Extension Office. “Just as (with) any volunteer program, without good volunteers, it is difficult to sustain. Literacy is the key to good changes in this world. It is impossible to adequately function and have a thriving community without sound literacy skills.”
The training program, which is held every September, features a two-hour session on book selection, presentation and book rotation.
After the session, volunteer readers will read one book once a month to their assigned preschool class. The children are allowed to take turns checking out that book for two nights. This gives each child time to enjoy the book and allows parents to read the book to the children.
“It’s always fun, and we have refreshments at the end of the session,” said McCabe. “Volunteers can specify what they would like to read and what age they’d like to read to.”
The Begin with Reading Program’s library has been developed by Altrusa and is housed at the Extension Office.
Volunteer readers go to the library at the Extension Office once a month to select and check out story books. The books are library quality, and many are award winners.
Altrusa has reported that parental feedback has been excellent. Parents report that their children want to read the book at home and that parents are taking time to read with their children.
“I think the parents and the children are both rewarded by this program. We hope that this program will make parents see that by establishing a love for reading and words in their children at an early age, they are increasing their children’s chances for a better education and, ultimately, a better life,” said McCabe. “By reading to their young children, they are also developing bonds and making memories that will last a lifetime.”
Research has shown that reading aloud to children in the earliest years of life is essential in building language skills and also nurtures a child’s love of books and reading.
“It is wonderful that we are giving these classrooms a chance to have a reader come in once a month, but this program is unique because it goes beyond that,” said McCabe. “This program brings books into the homes of our community’s children. I think there is something very sacred about reading a book to your child. It is one of the few times during the day that a child may have his or her parent’s full attention.”
Anyone 18 years and older can participate in the Begin with Reading Program. The Leflore County Extension Service does background checks on all applicants.
“If the foundation for a love of reading is laid early on in a child's life, the future of that child will be bright. There is no limit to what that child may be able to accomplish in life,” said Russell. “We need more volunteers, so come and make a difference in our community and in the life of a child.”
For more information, call 453-6803.
• Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
