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Visit the Early Bird Reader Program website
What is the Early Bird Reader Program?
Research indicates that children who enter kindergarten without ever having been exposed to reading or books are so significantly behind children who have had that experience that their chances of ever catching up with their peers and expected standards are very slight. To address this concern before children start school, the Flint Hills Resources Community Action Council (FHRCAC) developed this program using a unique approach: engaging and equipping preschooler’s older siblings. (Similar programs rely on parents who are not always available or aware of the importance of reading to their very young children.) School librarians at participating elementary, middle and high schools teach students how to read to pre-K younger ones at home as well as providing them with age-appropriate books for their home library.
Many elementary, middle and high schools in the Corpus Christi region are already implementing the Early Bird Reader Program. Ultimately the goal is to prepare pre-schoolers for success in school, but the program also has reciprocal benefits. It builds reading confidence in student readers. It also provides opportunities for children and youth to engage with their families in a positive way and to server as mentors to their younger family members.
Links to research about the benefits of early literacy.
Reading Rockets Article
How can you help? We need books!
Book collection boxes are located at all Corpus Christi Public Libraries:
- La Retama Central Library, 805 Comance
- Greenwood Branch Library, 4044 Greenwood Dr.
- Janet F. Harte Public Library, 2629 Waldron Rd.
- Anita and W.T. Neyland Public Library (formerly Parkdale), 123 Carmel Parkway
- Northwest Branch Library, 3202 McKinzie Rd
- Dr. Clotilde P. Garcia Public Library, 5930 Brockhampton
What kind of books do we need?
Since the Early Bird Reader Program is focused on babies to 5 year old, the books we need will have 50 words or less with lots of pictures. They can be hardback, paperback board books or cloth books.
FHRCAC Members
Gayle Gottlich, Co-Chair, 563-1452
Vic Menard, Co-Chair, 881-8978
Cecil Johnson, 242-1678, x1002
Marcia Keener, 643-6725
Evon Kelly, 815-7315
Glenn Kost, 241-7866
Susan Oliver, 886-3560
Michelle Orcutt, 688-9730
Gina Prince, 985-6810
Ola Mae Soliz, 991-9003
Karen Turner, 561-8424
CCISD Partnership
Yolanda Reyna, 844-0376
Georg Johnson
Sharon South
Kay Taylor, Cunningham MS, 878-1432
Education Service Center, Region 2 Partnership
Kim Picozzi
KIII-TV Partnership
Heidi J. Garcia, Promotions Assistant, 986-8405
KEDT-TV Partnership
Donna Frank
Dawn Stubblefield
Corpus Christi Public Libraries Partnership
Herb Canales, 880-7070
H-E-B Partnership
Belinda Hernandez, 857-1714
FHR Representatives: Martha Ruiz
Administrator: Debbie Wingfield
Phone: 361-884-8890, Fax 361-884-8891
Fiduciary agent: United Way of the Coastal Bend
Catrina Wilson, UWCB/FHRCAC representative
Other community partners and sponsors include:
American Bank
Basic Industries
CC Masonic Lodge #189
Crocker Moving & Storage
Half-Price Books
Kathryn Childers
PathwaysToWellness
Book Drive Information and Graphic Downloads
Important Milestones
- April 2007 - H-E-B sponsors a month long community book drive to collect gently used pre-K books. Over 1000 age-appropriate books were donated and used in the pilot programs at CCISD in the fall of 2007.
- December 2007 - H-E-B contributes $1000 for purchase of books for the program
- Monday, February 4, 2008- Kathryn Childers and H-E-B announce a donation of 3000 copies of More Snow for Kids to be used for the Early Bird Reader Program. The announcement was at a news conference hosted by Rose Shaw Special Emphasis School.
- March, 2008: First Annual KIII-TV Early Bird Reader Book Drive
The Early Bird Reader Program received a tremendous boost through the fantastic media exposure and new partnerships formed:
- Greater community awareness of the need for reading to pre-school children
- Greater community awareness of the Early Bird Reader Program
- New partners to help us deliver this program regionally with more educational support (Education Service Center and KEDT, in addition to CCISD).
- Expansion of the program regionally
- Much need books (4335) and money ($2080) to implement the program in 29 schools throughout our area. The money was used to purchase an additional 1000 books. American Bank contributed $1000 of this money, along with three boxes of books raised by an employee book drive.
- October 2008: The Corpus Christi Public Libraries agreed to be a permanent collection site for the Early Bird Reader Program.
- Half-Price Books agreed to regularly set aside surplus pre-K books to be donated to the program on an ongoing basis
- Pathways To Wellness is providing storage facilities for donated books as part of our distribution system to schools
- March, 2009: Second Annual KIII-TV Early Bird Reader Book Drive collected enough books and money to supply the current need of books for the Early Bird Reader Program at 13 area schools.
- March 26, 2010: Third Annual KIII-TV Early Bird Reader Book Drive!
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