Category Archives: Reading

SPI Honors Read Across America Week – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond visited the Jordan Academy of Language and Computer Science in the Orange Unified School District on Friday morning. Thurmond joined students, parents, and teachers in celebrating Read Across America Week in remembrance of the late Dr. Seuss.

“A book can be a passport to any part of California or the world or a passport to the past or the future,” Thurmond said. “A book can help us understand where we are from, can teach us our history and the best way forward. Reading takes you on a journey, a lifelong journey of adventure. Books are valuable for many reasons—but I like to read mainly because it is fun.”

Jordan Academy of Language and Computer Science received a California School Boards Association Golden Bell Award as an innovative and sustainable program that makes a demonstrated difference with a focus on meeting the needs of all students.

Source: SPI Honors Read Across America Week – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

Callison Elementary celebrates Literary Character Day – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Rebecca Wasik

Callison Elementary School in Vacaville celebrated the 25th annual Read Across America Week, which began on Dr. Seuss’ birthday, with themed days.

Friday was Literary Character Day and participants from across the city — including public safety officers, Air Force personnel, local leaders and community members — volunteered to read to the students, some dressed as their favorite book characters.

The aim — to teach them about the importance reading has in their careers.

Source: Callison Elementary celebrates Literary Character Day – The Vacaville Reporter

Book it! Literacy festival returns to Vallejo this weekend – Times-Herald

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By Sharon Pearce

The Vallejo Kids Book Festival is returning for a fourth season on Saturday with an event Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum Executive Director Melinda McCrary is saying should be a “jam-packed day among stacks of books for those who need to or are learning to read.”

McCrary will host a gathering of reading enthusiasts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Featured this year will be giveaways of 200 to 300 books, a big jump from last season. There will be one free book given to each child, as well as snacks, storytime reads by volunteers and the much-loved inflatable forest imaginative visual from Astro-Botanicals.

The festival is produced in partnership with the Vallejo Literacy Alliance, a group of literacy-promoting organizations, all under the sponsorship of First 5 Solano, which funds partners who work directly with the community to provide services bettering the lives of children up to 5 and their families. It is under the auspices of Solano Cares.

Source: Book it! Literacy festival returns to Vallejo this weekend – Times-Herald

Academy of 21st Century Learning promotes love of books – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Reading is a powerful experience. Books can take readers to different worlds, engross them in a range of stories and broaden their horizons.

Unfortunately, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, 21% of adults have low literacy skills.

One of the Academy of 21st Century Learning’s goals is to bring that number down by promoting a passion for reading among its students early on, and one of the Vacaville private school’s avenues for doing just that is through its annual Literacy Awareness Night.

Source: Academy of 21st Century Learning promotes love of books – The Vacaville Reporter

SSPI Celebrates Read Across America Day – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

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As part of a celebration of Read Across America Day, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond yesterday visited Jordan Academy of Language and Computer Science in Orange, Calif., to read to students. Superintendent Thurmond today also partnered with Assemblymember Mia Bonta to introduce Assembly Bill (AB) 2465, a bill that would establish a grant program for community literacy and education enrichment through partnerships between schools and community-based organizations.

Superintendent Thurmond read “Say Something!” by Peter H. Reynolds after discussing the importance of literacy with students. Read Across America Day is an annual reading and awareness program of the National Education Association, which calls for schools and parents across the country to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.

Source: SSPI Celebrates Read Across America Day – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

SPI Announces New Digital Reading Partnership – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced a partnership with Renaissance that will provide unlimited access to myON digital books and daily news articles for all pre-K to grade twelve students in California from December 1, 2021, through January 31, 2022.

This initiative aims to give students The Gift of Literacy External link opens in new window or tab. during the winter break by providing opportunities to engage in reading at home, at school, and in the community and is part of the Superintendent Thurmond’s statewide literacy campaign to help all California students reach the goal of literacy by third grade, by the year 2026.

“I encourage every parent and student to use this free service to continue to read over the holidays,” said Superintendent Thurmond. “This is a great opportunity for our families to share the joy of reading and establish routines that support literacy growth for our students.” Literacy is a key benchmark in measuring and predicting student success, which is why Superintendent Thurmond is taking bold action to help students meet this important milestone. “We hope that free access to thousands of digital books will create and cultivate a lifelong love of reading that can continue to be nurtured by our school and local libraries,” Superintendent Thurmond said.

Source: SPI Announces New Digital Reading Partnership – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

SPI to Ensure CA Students to Read by Third Grade – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced a bold vision for ensuring that every California student will learn to read by third grade by the year 2026 during a virtual press conference on Tuesday. The effort will also include a biliteracy milestone for dual-language learners.

In order to advance this goal, Superintendent Thurmond said a task force will be created to bring together practitioners, advocates, researchers, foundation partners, thought leaders, students, parents, and other experts to identify key strategies for advancing this goal. Efforts are underway in the California Department of Education (CDE) to build out a task force structure and membership, as well as establish when the task force will meet and details on the types of questions they will be tackling. In addition to announcing the task force formation, Superintendent Thurmond affirmed that Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) has agreed to sponsor legislation to help advance this goal.

Source: SPI to Ensure CA Students to Read by Third Grade – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

Solano County Library offers summer reading challenge – Daily Republic

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Registration begins Tuesday for the Solano County Summer Reading Challenge, which runs through July 31.

Sign up at the county library website, solanolibrary.com, or visit a local branch. Participants can track their progress at solanolibrary.beanstack.org. Everyone who registers receives a book bag.

To complete the challenge, read 15 books, read for 15 hours or complete 15 activities (pre-readers). Children and teens will earn a book prize of their choice upon completion of the challenge. Adults will receive a commemorative enamel pin.

Source: Solano County Library offers summer reading challenge

Vacaville children’s author loves a good spooky story – The Reporter

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By Matt Sieger

“Life is weird. When my mom died six months ago, I didn’t even know what my grandparents looked like. Now, I’m getting ready to bake cookies in their hundred-something-year-old mansion with their photos looking down on me in almost every room.”

Thus begins “The Ghosters,” the first book in a series by Vacaville author Diana Corbitt, who has just finished the fourth volume. The house, it turns out, is haunted, because Corbitt has always loved a good scary tale.

The narrator in the first book is Theresa, a seventh-grader who, along with her autistic brother Joey, Joey’s friend Elbie and Theresa’s friend Kerry, grow a little bit older in each book.

Source: Vacaville children’s author loves a good spooky story – The Reporter

Increasing literacy, online learning? There’s an app for that – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

While COVID-19 has upended the world for nearly a year, it has forced us to put on our collective thinking caps to deal with it, especially when it comes to educating children and adults.

But as our public institutions shut down or scale back operations during the pandemic, with no sign of letting up amid another surge, two area school districts and the Solano County Library have locked virtual arms and reached out to increase reading and literacy and to promote digital learning.

Using wireless technology in an effort to support new generations of lifelong learners and readers, the library system and Fairfield-Suisun and Travis unified school districts have formed what educators and library leaders say is an innovative new partnership to increase access to more ebooks and e-audiobooks for students.

Source: Increasing literacy, online learning? There’s an app for that – The Reporter

Time to ‘Spring into Summer Reading Challenge’ – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

Solano County Library invites everyone to participate in the “Spring into Summer Reading Challenge” while students are at home and parents and caregivers are looking for ways to keep their children occupied.

The reading program is designed to be fun for the whole family. Participating is simple: Beginning May 1, register for the challenge at solanolibrary.com and track reading progress online.

Even little ones who aren’t reading yet can participate by enjoying a book with an adult, playing with puppets and enjoying nursery rhymes.

Source: Time to ‘Spring into Summer Reading Challenge’

Let’s Steam Ahead author reads to Benicia students to inspire a love of reading – Benicia Herald

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Children’s Author, Andre’ Lewis, in partnership with Valero, is giving back to our community. On Feb. 11, Mr. Lewis visited all four elementary schools in the Benicia Unified School District. Mr. Lewis visited to share, Let’s Steam Ahead with third grade students. The central theme of Mr. Lewis’ book is to inspire a love of reading and writing through the exploration of science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

Representatives from Valero helped with funding to cover costs and assist Mr. Lewis in providing all third grade students with a free book to enjoy and share with their families. Present were representatives from the STEAM field.

Source: Let’s Steam Ahead author reads to Benicia students to inspire a love of reading

Digital bookmobile new school literacy tool – The Reporter

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By Kimberly K. Fu

Earlier this week, a 53-foot long literacy program on wheels rolled into Fairview Elementary School in Fairfield to bring the joy of the written word to students.

The Digital Bookmobile by Overdrive was welcomed with a cacophony cheers as students waited in line for a turn to enter the traveling library.

That done, the youths poured into the vehicle and took seats in the exhibit area. They learned to access ebooks and audiobooks offered by the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District using a touchscreen at the front of the room. Hands waved excitedly throughout the short instruction period and the kids, of the generation that seems born with digital knowledge, quickly got the hang of the material.

Source: Digital bookmobile new school literacy tool – The Reporter

Benicia students can use ID cards to check out books – Times-Herald

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By Vallejo Times Herald

Thanks to the OneCard collaboration between Benicia Public Library and Benicia Unified School District, all students attending middle school and high school in Benicia can now use their student ID cards as library cards, the city announced Monday.

The move puts library cards into the hands of the nearly 3,000 students who attend these schools.

“This is a very important step forward for access to information resources for our entire community,” said David Dodd, the city of Benicia’s director of library and cultural services, in a city press release. “We’ve been working towards this for a couple of years, and it is so fantastic to see it become a reality!”

Source: Benicia students can use ID cards to check out books – Times-Herald

Vacaville Unified launches bedtime stories video series – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Kids, settle down. Your principal is going to read you a bedtime story.

That’s the premise of Vacaville Unified School District’s newly launched “Bedtime Stories with VUSD,” in which books are read to elementary schoolers in district-made videos every Tuesday night.

The program began Tuesday with Jennifer Austin, principal of Hemlock Elementary School, reading Carol McCloud’s “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?”

Elaine Kong, VUSD’s communications director, said the idea was inspired by Belinda George, a principal at Homer Drive Elementary School in Beaumont, Texas. She began reading children’s books over Facebook Live to ensure students were read to at home. George’s program received national coverage and caught the attention of several VUSD administrators.

Source: Vacaville Unified launches bedtime stories video series – The Reporter

FSUSD Project Lit: Growing Readers and Leaders – Daily Republic

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By Tim Goree

Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District students will have the opportunity to participate in diverse book clubs tied to community service this upcoming school year thanks to a Solano Community Foundation Education Plus! Grant. Teacher librarians in the district will use grant funds to start Project LIT Book Clubs for teens in the community. Project LIT Community is a national, grassroots Literacy movement, in which a team of dedicated teachers and students work together in forming a school-wide – and sometimes community-wide Literary Community.

FSUSD and Project LIT Community envision a future where all children become proficient, passionate readers who see the joy and value of reading, and who possess the literacy skills to choose their post-secondary path. In order for this to become a reality, every child deserves access to high-interest, culturally relevant books both inside and outside of school. Additionally, every child deserves daily opportunities to read, celebrate and discuss great books with peers and adults in their community.

Source: FSUSD Project Lit: Growing Readers and Leaders – Daily Republic

Noted children’s author inspires Solano’s youths – The Reporter

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By Kimberly K. Fu

Explosive laughter erupted from the Fairfield Civic Center Library Saturday, a sure sign that something super fun was going on.

Turns out, it was something and someone, the later being noted children’s author and artist Todd Parr.

The Berkeley writer penned some 50 books over the years that’s printed in 18 languages. The gist — be unique, be you, and that’s more than enough.

Source: Noted children’s author inspires Solano’s youths – The Reporter

Children’s Author Visits Fairview Elementary School – Daily Republic

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By Hillary Homzie

Local children’s book author Hillary Homzie prefers that students don’t sit still or quiet during one of her author’s visit.

“For younger grades, I have students read and act out the books along with me,” she said. “I model the stages of writing and revising by demonstrating them. One of the most fun parts of my assembly is engaging with kids and having them actively participate in the creative process.”

At a recent visit to Fairview Elementary School on a rainy Friday morning this was fully evident. Students participated along with Homzie as she acted out a chapter from one of her new books, Ellie May on April Fools’ Day.

Source: School Event: Children’s Author Visits Fairview Elementary School

Raising a Reader program launches in Solano County – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Solano County Office of Education launched a well-respected children’s literacy program for local children in early care and learning settings – including participating Quality Counts family child care homes and center-based programs.

First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission awarded Solano County Office of Education with funding to implement Raising a Reader. For the 2018-19 program year, 20 Quality Counts sites will participate in Raising a Reader, allowing more than 500 children to take home a set of four books on a weekly basis and share with their families.

Source: Raising a Reader program launches in Solano County

Digital Text is Changing How Kids Read—Just Not in the Way That You Think | MindShift

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By Holly Korbey

After his bath each night, Julie Atkinson’s eight-year-old son grabs the iPad and settles into bed for some reading time through kids’ book app Epic! Though Atkinson and her husband were accustomed to reading to him, now their son explores different subjects on his own inside the app’s 25,000 titles, reading biographies, history and fiction all pre-selected for his reading level. Atkinson is impressed with Epic’s quality titles, and likes the recommendation feature that makes the monthly subscription service feel like Netflix.

But Atkinson, who guesses that her family of four in Orinda, California, spends half their reading time with physical books, said that she has noticed a difference between how her son reads paper books and how he reads digitally. He has a tendency to skim more in Epic! “He might be more inclined to flip in Epic!, just flip through and see if he likes a book, skipping around. When it’s a physical book, he’s going to sit and read until he’s tired of reading. But in Epic!, he knows there are so many [books], he will read a little faster.”

Source: Digital Text is Changing How Kids Read—Just Not in the Way That You Think | MindShift | KQED News