Our quarterly Provider Bulletins offer helpful tips, resource links and literacy-related research nuggets to enrich your delivery of Reach Out and Read in the exam room.
We hope this is "news you can use"!
Best Wishes from Reach Out and Read
New Research That Supports Reach Out and Read
Over the past couple of weeks there has been a flurry of interest in the national press (reports in CNN and Huffington Post Parent) around the publication of research showing differences in brain activation associated with reading aloud to young children.
This is exciting evidence that supports
the effectiveness of the Reach Out and Read model.
In response to this Dr. Perri Klass, our Reach Out and Read National Medical Director, wrote an article for the New York Times Well Health Blog, that examines this study, alongside another showing that reading aloud exposes children to a wider vocabulary than just talking to them.
Dr. Klass explains very clearly how these two new studies help to elucidate the mechanism of how reading aloud to young children supports the development of early literacy skills, and ties the research into the work of Reach Out and Read.
Prescription for Success Toolkit
We are pleased to announce the launch of our Prescription for Success Toolkit designed to support collaborations between libraries, museums and Reach Out and Read program sites.
In January 2015, we embarked on a yearlong project, Prescription for Success, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This was aimed at bringing together Reach Out and Read, libraries and museums, natural partners that have a collective impact on the lives of young children.
The toolkit encourages local libraries, museums and Reach Out and Read sites to open conversations with one another, to explore common interests, learn about one another and build trust and community. It suggests ways in which they can support one another, provides links to materials and resources to help with collaborations, and examples of successful established partnerships.
This new book from Dana Suskind, founder and director of the 30 Million Words Initiative is an interesting read.
It translates the powerful science behind children's brain development, and the way language shapes the brain and academic achievement. Told through stories, it is about elevating all of early childhood and the power of parents, and includes discussion related to Reach Out and Read.
Thirty Million Words will be released on Sept 8, but can be pre-ordered for $15.40, half the list price, from Amazon.
Read Baby, Every Day, by Reach Out and Read doctor John Hutton is also available on Amazon. A rhyming board book that is lovely to read to babies also has an underlying message about the importance of reading to children from the early days. Please consider using it to inspire families to read to their children as early as possible.
