SPREAD THE WORD NEVADA | STWN

Kids to Kids is the flagship program of Spread the Word Nevada. It allows us to put books into the hands of at-risk children so they may build home libraries. Book ownership is a critical factor in every child’s intellectual development. Far too often, the books provided through the Kids to Kids pro­gram are the first books these children have ever owned. During the initial distribution at an adopted school, all pre-kindergarten through 5th grade students receive a drawstring backpack that serves as a “safe-keeping” place for storing their book collection. Five new and gently used books are selected at this kick-off celebration, and then, once a month, one additional book is selected to add to their libraries.

The goal of Breakfast with Books and Snack Time with Books is to increase the awareness and importance of reading as a family activity. Each program consists of a light snack, story time, raffle, and most importantly the opportunity for both children and parents to select a new book. Basic reading strategies are reinforced throughout each story, and families are given an activity to take home to “extend” the story. This is an opportunity to encourage further discussion and enable each family to share and foster a love of reading in the home.

Books & Buddies is a Multi-Generational Reading Program developed to improve the literacy skills of children by partnering them with volunteer mentors acting as reading companions. Working together, the volunteer and student focus on improving the child’s reading proficiency, comprehension, and oral reading skills. Books & Buddies mentors provide the much-needed individualized attention that is not readily available within the classroom and, unfortunately, often absent from the child’s home environment.

Spread the Word Nevada addresses summer learning loss with our weekly Books on Break summer program. We partner with other agencies including Three Square and Boys and Girls Clubs to identify summer sites where children who may be at-risk gather. We then deliver story time, reading logs, prizes, activity sheets, and books to those sites! The program includes: *Modeled story time with Spread the Word Nevada staff *Distribution of “forever” books *Reading logs to encourage independent reading *Treasure box prizes for completed reading logs *Extension activities provided for a daily “power ½ hour”