The 1,000 Books before Kindergarten program is designed to help parents or caregivers prepare their children for one of life’s biggest milestones: Kindergarten! A number of research projects have proven over and over again that children get ready to read years before they begin their formal education. The most effective way to get your child ready to learn is to read to them.
Elementary Principal Laurel Jensen says:
Children who enter school as “readers” are at a great advantage. Before they learn their letters, and learn the sounds those letters make, they learn the love of reading from their families. They actually see themselves as readers when they experience these close connections with family members and the delight of reading together. My grandmother used to read to me for hours as I sat on the back of the couch- as long as I continued to comb her hair! Now that was a win-win situation!
Children with years of previous experience with books and family come to school eager and ready to become strong independent readers themselves. This is the most important contribution you can make to your child’s success in the preschool years and you can and should begin before they even reach their first birthday. It’s a great way to build great memories and a powerful investment in your child’s future.
How to get started:
1. You may sign up at any time. Be sure to stop by the library to pick up your first reading log and a folder to store your log ins.
2. Come back often, and bring your reading logs with you. For every 100 books you complete, your child will receive a prize, and the next 100 books log.
3. When you have finished 1,000 books, you child will receive a bigger prize, have their picture taken for our wall, and will be invited to a graduation party to be held every August before school starts.
Suggestions:
1. Have fun! Reading together should never be a chore.
2. If you read one story at bedtime each night for three years you’ll have shared 1,095 books.
3. If you read ten books a week for two years, you’ll have shared 1,040 books.
4. Any child from birth to kindergarten is eligible to participate.
5. Although we want to encourage you to visit the library, books do not have to all come from the library. Also read what you have at home.
6. All books count. Listen to a book at story time….it counts. Enjoy a Tumble book on the computer…it counts. Siblings read to your child….it counts. The same book for the 20th time…it counts. Read to more than one child…it counts for everyone.
7. Visit story time often, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 for infants and toddlers, and at 11:00 am for preschoolers.
8. REMEMBER, It’s not a RACE, it’s a journey. Make the most of it.