Ready, Set, Let's Read

Ready, Set, Let's Read volunteers help build preschoolers' language and literacy skills. 

 

Many children from lower-income households may miss out on the joy of hearing stories because they aren't read to as frequently, which can hinder their language and literacy development. To address this, United Way of Western Connecticut created the Ready, Set, Let's Read! program to cultivate a love of reading. This program places volunteers in preschool classrooms serving children who are at risk of not being ready for kindergarten and they read stories aloud, engage in one-on-one reading, and help with literacy-related activities.

Danbury Public Schools' Cottage Street Early Learning Center, Head Start, Interfaith Early Learning Center, Little People Learning Center, and the YMCA Children's Center partner with Ready, Set, Let's Read! to provide this valuable service to at-risk preschoolers. In addition, the program collaborates with community partners to collect book donations for the partner preschools, increasing the number of books available to children who may not have access to many at home.

 

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

 

Volunteer readers are scheduled to visit Danbury-area preschools that serve low-income children. These volunteers read stories aloud to the whole classroom and provide one-on-one reading support for children who need extra assistance with literacy. The program also includes United Way volunteers and staff working together to coordinate book donations for local preschools, providing more reading materials for children who may not have access to many at home.

 

OUR IMPACT

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information, please contact Ebony Jeffress at ebony.jeffress@uwwesternct.org.