by Robert “Bob” H. Brown
Got your summer reading list ready? Let’s make sure Central Florida’s children do, too.
Research shows that if developing students don’t read while they’re out of school, they can lose up to 25 percent of their literacy level. In the fall, teachers often spend a month or more reviewing material that children have forgotten, eliminating time that could be spent learning new information.
Finishing just four books each summer can actually increase reading proficiency. But that can pose a problem for a large segment of the population, particularly students already struggling to maintain grade-appropriate comprehension levels and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
For many low-income families, the availability of books is a major reason children fall behind. “The Handbook of Early Literacy Research” found that in middle-income homes, each child has about 13 age-appropriate books. In low-income homes, the ratio is one book to every 300.
It’s a shocking statistic that warrants community intervention.
As part of our continued efforts to improve childhood literacy, Heart of Florida United Way is celebrating its annual Day of Action on June 23. The event addresses summer reading loss and provides low-income students with age-appropriate books.
Here’s how you can help.
From June 2-6, Heart of Florida United Way will collect new and gently used books (pre-K through 12). Volunteers will sort the books by age group and reading level, distributing them to students in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties on June 23.
This is an all-volunteer project, so we need people to donate books and help with collecting, sorting and distribution. Last year, we gave 6,000 books to 3,000 children. This year, with your help, we can do even more.
Education is one of United Way’s top priorities. Together – on this year’s Day of Action – we can reduce summer reading loss…one book and one student at a time.
Robert “Bob” H. Brown is president and CEO of Heart of Florida United Way. For more information about Day of Action June 23, or to donate/volunteer, contact Matthew Blood at [email protected] or visit www.hfuw.org.
