Reach Out and Read Kickoff Event a Success
By Dawn Haney, ON Communications
Hominy, Okla. (Monday, November 14, 2016) - The Reach Out and Read program, to promote literacy and parental involvement, had its kickoff event on November 14th, at the Early Childhood Center in Hominy, OK. This is a grant-funded project under the auspices of the Osage Nation. The monies that fund Reach Out and Read (ROR) and ROR’S Reading is Fun Night are provided from grants by TransCanada and Advancing American Indians in Medical and STEM Careers (AAIMS). The Osage Nation Office of Strategic Planning and Self-Governance oversees the implementation of Reach Out and Read.
Approximately fifty-five people from the Hominy and Prue areas attended the Reach Out and Read: Reading Is Fun Night. Craig Day, co-anchor for the News on 6 read Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, to the approximately 25 children in attendance. The Osage Nation Education department hosted the event.
The Reach Out and Read program is designed to be a tool for the physician. At each well-child visit, the physician uses an age appropriate book to share with the young patient and the parent. During the physician’s time of observation and discussion, the physician observes motor, communication and learning development as the child handles the developmentally appropriate book. A book is given to the family to take home at every well-child visit between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years.
During the visit, the physician may also emphasize to the parent how important it is to read to their child - they let the parents know they truly are the child’s first and most important teacher and that reading starts in the home. They may also explain to the parents that 90% of brain development occurs between birth and age 5. It is also an opportunity for the Osage Nation’s educators to stress to all parents who are attending the event how important reading is to their child’s future success in school. If a child is not exposed to nursery rhymes, books, songs and talking in the home, they will start school behind before they even get started.
Deb Atterberry, ON Strategic Planning and Self-Governance Analyst, said “We want children and parents to know reading is fun AND fundamental. It is fundamental to be successful in all subjects but it is also fundamental to the future success of their child. Studies show that children who are read to in the home have a greater chance to succeed in school and in life.”
The next reading is scheduled for 6 P.M. on December 6th at Marrs Elementary School, 1100 S Osage St., Skiatook, OK, with all schools to be reached by June, 2017.
Video from Reach Out & Read: Reading is Fun
For more information on the Reach Out & Read program go to reachoutandread.org
For Media Inquiries:
Dawn Haney 918-287-5667