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United Way Blog

Celebrate National Reading Day

Celebrate National Reading Day

On January 23, 2014, celebrate National Reading Day! National Reading Day is an annual event which celebrates and encourages reading by younger children and is celebrated in thousands of schools all around the United States.

Here are four ideas for how to get involved:

  1. Contact your local school, library or early grade literacy groups to learn how to participate in National Reading Day events in your area.
  2. Give new or gently used age-appropriate books to local reading programs at schools, libraries, child care centers and community centers.
  3. Take a look at our list of recommended books for reading with young children and learn more about how to read with a child.
  4. Take our pledge to become a volunteer reader, tutor or mentor.

Why are volunteer readers so important?  Because young children who aren’t strong readers by 4th grade are more likely than their peers to drop out of high school. Reading to and with children improves reading skills and comprehension and bolsters a love of reading and learning.

Many United Ways can help you volunteer with a reading program. United Way of Western Connecticut, for example, places volunteer readers in preschool classrooms through its Ready, Set, Let’s Read! program. Currently this United Way has 20 community volunteers in 16 preschool classrooms at two Danbury preschools, Head Start of Northern Fairfield County and The Salvation Army’s The Right Place School Readiness Center. United Way of Western Connecticut screened, trained and matched volunteers to read with disadvantaged children every week.

Research proves that caring volunteers working with students of all ages, have the power to help kids boost academic achievement and put young people on track for a bright future. I hope you will celebrate National Reading Day by getting involved in reading with young children.  Your local United Way can help you get started. Happy reading!