Read for the Record is a national campaign designed to break the world record for the largest shared reading experience ever, while also working to break the cycle of illiteracy.
Students from the ECED program volunteered to read “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats to young children in the CSCC Library during Jumpstart’s Read for the Record event held on Thursday.
Suzanne Wood, associate professor/coordinator of Early Childhood Education stated, “The whole purpose of this event is to promote early childhood literacy skills, which is a predictor of reading success. The more we read to children early on, then, obviously, their chance of being successful readers is going to be greater.”
Presented in partnership with the Pearson Foundation, Jumpstart’s Read for the Record brings individuals together to show how this situation can be immediately improved.
Last year, more than 2 million children and adults helped set the current world record by taking part in one-day local events across the country. In the process, participants help spread the word that reading and engaging with a child before he or she even enters kindergarten can improve his or her chances of graduating from high school by as much as 30 percent.
Again this year, the day-long campaign will be kicked off on NBC’s “TODAY” show and will be followed by large and small reading events organized by individuals, schools, libraries, government organizations and local businesses nationwide.
For the first time, participants can also help set the new world record online, for free, at www.wegivebooks.org.
To encourage participation, each time someone reads this classic story on Thursday at www.wegivebooks.org, the Pearson Foundation will donate a new children’s book to a pre-school classroom Jumpstart serves.
To help spread the word in advance of the day’s effort, the Pearson Foundation is similarly donating a copy of “The Snowy Day” to a child in need each time someone reads the book online in advance of Thursday.
Now in its fifth year, Jumpstart’s Read for the Record also celebrates the start of Jumpstart’s school year that helps prepare preschool children in low-income neighborhoods for success in kindergarten and life. Jumpstart’s year-round program connects children in need with trained adults who work with them year-round to ensure they enter school ready to succeed.
In partnership with Jumpstart and the Pearson Foundation, Cleveland State supports early education and literacy development and encourages the entire community to participate in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record.
Anyone, anywhere can participate in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record by pledging to read at www.readfortherecord.org.
‘The Snowy Day” can be read online at www.wegivebooks.org. Learn more at www.readfortherecord.org.
