Reading Pathway

After years of reviewing data, it has become apparent that the public schools will not be able to improve school readiness or reading scores. It must be very sad and frustrating for educators to try all sorts of things and have nothing move the dial. The fact is reading skills develop many years before a child ever gets to school. If a child is behind when they get to school, they usually stay behind. That's the sad truth.

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The solution lies outside the system and it's the responsibility of ALL of US to see that kids learn how to read. So how do you do that when you're not trained to teach. Simple. You get books into kids hands and use every opportunity to engage with kids and show them reading is fun. Volunteer at a school. Read to kids at a laundromat. Engage with kids at a restaurant. Look for opportunities to talk to kids about books. Give books as gifts to grandkids. Step up!!!

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Here's the formula: GET BOOKS IN KIDS' HANDS EARLY IN LIFE + MAKE READING FUN! That's it.

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Start as early as possible with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Make it FUN with Dolly Mamas. Provide a boost for disadvantaged and at-risk preschoolers with Racquets for Reading!!! and Storybook Champions. Get them ready for kindergarten. Simple, and it's FUN.

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