Ready to Read

Children today are expected to enter school with many more skills than previous generations, including social, emotional, and communication skills, in addition to a basic knowledge of math and literacy. The YPN Ready to Read program works with families with children ages 0-5 years to build upon beginning literacy skills by offering parent and child reading activities. The core areas of focus include: print knowledge, vocabulary, phonological awareness, and narrative.

A Ready to Read activity typically follows this format:

  • A shared meal between each family
  • Four workshop stations, one for each area of literacy focus (Print, Vocabulary, Phonological, Narrative), for parents and their child
  • Structured free reading or reading activity
  • Evening ends with each family taking two books home to practice skills learned
  • Parents will also have access to handouts and take home information regarding continued skill development

Lunch and Literacy

For many children, the summer months are a time of fun and exploration, but it is often a time that youth fall behind on reading development. YPN’s Lunch & Literacy program serves kids who are enrolled in summer programming by matching them with a community volunteer to practice reading skills during lunch hours throughout the summer.

Volunteers go through a training process that allows them to engage with youth and build upon beginning literacy skills such as print knowledge, vocabulary, phonological awareness, and narrative. Lunch & Literacy also focuses on the continued development of advanced skills, such as dialogic reading, reasoning and deduction, and fluency. Through mentorship and skill development, children are able to experience academic achievement, all while facing many barriers to success.

Want more information on Literacy Initiatives?

For more information about the YPN Ready to Read and Lunch & Literacy program please contact Meridith Myers
Email Meridith or call 319.364.8909

For more information about the YPN Bilingual Lunch & Literacy program please contact Lizbeth Salas Landa
Email Lizbeth or call 319.364.8909

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