ReadBoston - Boston Redevelopment Authority

ReadBoston Author Series event featuring Mark Halperin

Please join Mayor Thomas M. Menino for a ReadBoston Author Series event featuring Mark Halperin. Halperin is the editor-at-large for TIME, senior political analyst for MSNBC and author of GAME CHANGE an entertaining account of the 2008 presidential election.

September 8 at 6 pm
Boston Harbor Hotel, Rowes Wharf
Admission is $25
Light refreshments and wine provided compliments of the Boston Harbor Hotel
Rsvp to readboston@cityofboston.gov or 617-918-5282

2010 ReadBoston Storymobile

Celebrate summer with the ReadBoston Storymobile! ReadBoston Storymobiles travel to summer programs throughout the city providing children with free books and captivating stories told by professional storytellers. We visit libraries, child care centers, community centers, and parks in every neighborhood on a weekly basis. These events are open to the public and free of charge. Click here for the schedule and to see when the Storymobile will be visiting your neighborhood this summer!

With special thanks to our sponsors:

BJ's Charitable Foundation
The Highland Street Foundation
TadPole Playground
Bank of America
The Boston Bruins Foundation
New Balance Foundation
State Street Foundation
Staples
The Lauder Foundation: Leonard and Evelyn Lauder Fund
Tishman Speyer
Chestnut Hill Realty
P&G Gillette
TIME Magazine
The A.R. Tye and Family Charitable Trust
Genzyme
Target
The Herman and Henrietta Denzler Charitable Trust
Houghton Chemical
Agar
The Allston/Brighton - Boston College Neighborhood Fund
WGBH
Savings Bank Life Insurance
The Red Sox Foundation
Shawmut Design and Construction
Distrigas
Winter, Wyman & Company
The Druker Company, Ltd.
New England Development
The Cooperative Bank
John Taylor "Ike" Williams
Harvard University

Early Words

Early Words Campaign, in partnership with Staples

ReadBoston's After School Reading Initiative

After Schools in Boston are invited to apply for ReadBoston's After School Reading Initiative. Created in 2000, ReadBoston's After School Reading Initiative has worked with over 80 after school programs throughout the city of Boston promoting a love of reading, literature, and literacy. To accomplish this, ReadBoston works closely with after school directors and staff, coaching staff to lead engaging literacy activities. These activities include reading aloud with groups of students, singing, poetry, movement, and book-related arts projects. ReadBoston also purchases and develops book collections in after school programs, creating inviting spaces for reading.

Both school-based and community-based programs are invited to apply. Individual providers may choose to apply to enroll for more than one site, but must submit separate applications for each site.

Programs should submit all application materials by Friday, May 14, 2010. Mailing instructions and other details for submission are located in the enclosed RFP. All questions about the application process should be addressed to Anna Adler, Manager of Literacy Programs, ReadBoston, 617-918-5247, Anna.Adler.jcs@cityofboston.gov. We look forward to receiving your application.

Every Word Counts

For nearly a decade ReadBoston has been driven by our mission to have children in Boston reading on grade level by the time they complete third grade. Founded by Mayor Thomas M. Menino in 1995 to address low literacy levels among Boston’s youth, ReadBoston has since grown into a city-wide leader in the field of early literacy.

Our programs reach into every level of a child’s life from birth through elementary school. In a child’s early years, ReadBoston staff provide child care centers with materials and training to set up home reading programs and work with teachers to improve their literacy teaching skills. At the elementary level ReadBoston helps schools to foster home-school connections, and provides classroom libraries that allow students to take books home to read with their families.

ReadBoston also provides students with three free books each year to create their own libraries at home. Outside of school, ReadBoston focuses effort to integrate literacy into after school programs and provides children with free books and fun storytellings during the summer.

ReadBoston and Early Literacy

ReadBoston's Early Words program, a partnership with Staples, seeks to increase verbal interaction between parents and caregivers and very young children. Click here for more information

Another program that focuses on early childhood literacy is The Reading Trail. This program promotes family involvement in children's literacy development. The Reading Trail establishes home lending libraries in day care centers around Boston. Children are encouraged to read, have a family member read with them, visit the library, and use individual "trail guides" to keep a record of books read. As children reach benchmarks along the Trail, they receive take home books and other reading incentives. Reading Trail sites receive books to establish libraries as well as training on how to integrate family reading activities into their current curriculum.

ReadBoston in the Boston Public Schools

ReadBoston also devotes much time and energy to promoting children's literacy in Boston's elementary schools. Our largest in-school program is the Family Literacy Project. The Family Literacy Project encourages family involvement in children's literacy by two central methods. The program sets up home lending libraries in classrooms and promotes twice yearly parent-teacher conferences. The FLP provides books for classroom libraries, as well as teacher training and support to help each school incorporate the program into the existing curriculum. The Family Literacy Project is currently working in 21 BPS elementary schools, and hopes to eventually expand to every elementary school in Boston.

The Reading Is Fundamental program (RIF) is another ReadBoston program that operates in the Boston Public Schools. The program provides three new books to each student that participates. Fun activities that encourage reading as a worthy pastime are also a hallmark of this program. Each year, 15,000 children in the Boston Public Schools receive books through ReadBoston's RIF program.

ReadBoston and Out-of-School Time

ReadBoston literacy specialists promote literacy instruction in Boston's after-school programs. The specialists provide literacy training, advice, and books to increase the presence of literacy instruction in the after-school arena. Families And Books also endeavors to reach Boston's children during out-of-school time, by setting up lending libraries in 15 of Boston's Family Homeless Shelters. During the summer months, ReadBoston's colorful Storymobiles roll out to community locations to promote reading. Two Storymobiles visit 40 neighborhood sites each week from July through August accompanied by storytellers and 10,000 take-home books for children.