4.rotary tipsheet readingcorners 2 sides · the 21 reading corners are located in healthcare...

Rotary Club of Ames Morning Early Literacy Project

Reading Corners

CommunityReadingCornersinpublicplacestransformwaitingroomsintoreadingroomsbyprovidingaccesstoappealingbooksandenticingparentsandchildrentoreadtogether.Why:Theseeasilyaccessiblesitesencourageparentstoreadwiththeirchildren,evenifjustforafewminutes.Minutesadduptohoursoflearningandasharedappreciationofbookswillstaywithchildrenthroughschoolandlife.Readingaloudtochildrenisthesinglemostimportantactivityforraisingreaders.Theearlyyearsinachild’slifeareacriticaltimeforbeginningtolearntolisten,speak,readandwrite.Theamountoflanguagechildrenhearbeforetheageofthreecorrelateswithfutureacademicsuccess.(HartandRisley)Enjoyinggoodbookstogetheralsostrengthensadult-childrelationships.What:TheReadingCornerprojectprovidesoneofthethreecomponentsofthenationalReachOutandReadmodel:theliteracy-richwaitingroomenvironment.Ifspaceallows,eachcornerconsistsofabookcase,acollectionofgoodbooks,acomfortablechair,andasignorposter.However,itcouldbeassimpleasabooknookwithabasketofchildren’sbooks.Who:AmesMorningRotaryClubcreatedthefirstReadingCornerinthePediatricDepartmentwaitingroomatMcFarlandClinicinAmeswithfundsfromaRotaryChildren’sOpportunityGrant.InsubsequentyearsmembersoftheRotaryclubhelpedfoundRaisingReadersinStoryCounty.Thisnonprofitorganizationthenadoptedtheprogramandhasexpandedtomaintaining21ReadingCornerscountywide.When:In2002theRotaryClubofAmesMorningfirstcreatedaReadingCornerinthePediatricDepartmentMcFarlandClinicwaitingroomtoenticefamiliestoreadwiththeiryoungchildrenwhilewaiting.WheneveranewclinicandphysiciansjoinedtheRORprogram,RaisingReadersworkedwiththeirstafftodesignandinstallaReadingCorner.Where:AfterstartinginAmes,theprogramisnowcountywide.The21ReadingCornersarelocatedinhealthcareclinics,humanserviceagencies,andeducationsitesinStoryCounty.How:First,identifyapubliclocation,createasiteplanandprepareabudget.Planforbookstorageandcomfortableseating.Consideraddinglighting,flooring,muralsorposters,achild’stableandchairs,signage,andotherliteracy-relatedresourcesforchildrenandparents.ConsultyourlocallibrarianorRaisingReadersinStoryCountyifyou’dlikehelpselectinghighqualityage-appropriatebooks.Afront-facingdisplaybookcase36-incheswideby30-incheshighcanholdabout40books.Thecompositioncouldinclude10boardbooks,10multiculturalpicturebooks,10funnypicturebooks,5otherpicturebooks,and5nonfictionbooks.Developaplanforongoingmaintenanceandreplenishingthebooks.Considerhostingagrandopeningcelebrationandfuturespecialeventssuchasfamilystorytimesorcelebrityreaders.

Story County Reading Corners