New 2024-25 Partnership with Chicago Public Library!
SitStayRead is proud to kick off a new partnership with our city’s extraordinary, and much beloved, Chicago Public Library this fall!
As part of Chicago Public Library’s new initiative Jump Into Reading, a program and collection of decoder books aimed at supporting emerging readers in the same developmental stage that we serve, SitStayRead offers ten out of school time (afterschool or Saturday) Family Literacy Events with our Certified Reading Assistance Dogs. All events are free and open to all, but aimed at young readers in Kindergarten through Second Grade and their families.
After an engaging, interactive story time with one of our program leaders, children and their families will be introduced to CPL’s new collection of decoder books at the branch, and invited to participate in literacy activities using these new titles. Children with an adult present, will get an introduction on how to approach a dog and then may spend time reading to and getting to know our dogs.
Make it stand out
What are decodable books? “Decodable books are a great tool to practice reading skills and build confidence. They help new readers sound out and decode words. Decodable books are designed to encourage children to practice their knowledge of letters and their corresponding sounds. They use specific letter patterns and go in a specific order from simple to more complex.”
The SitStayRead program staff have been busy this summer studying and incorporating components of the Science of Reading, including centering decoder readers, into our revised second grade curriculum, Tail Blazers, which is ready for students in English and bilingual English/Spanish iterations this fall. Program Director Jamie Crockett led volunteer trainings on our new curriculum in August, and we look forward to additional joint professional development for staff and volunteers on September 16 with Beth Gaskill!
Save the Date for SitStayRead + Jump Into Reading
Thursday, October 24, 2024; Time TBD: CPL South Shore Branch
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 @ 4:30 pm -5:30 pm: CPL Woodson Regional Library, Washington Heights
Saturday, December 14, 2024 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: CPL West Town Branch
Saturday, January 25, 2025 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm: CPL Beverly Branch
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 @ 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm: CPL Lozano Branch, Pilsen
March, 2025 @ TBD: CPL West Englewood Branch
Saturday, March 8, 2025 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am: CPL Lincoln Park Branch
Saturday, April 12, 2025 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: CPL McKinley Park Branch
Saturday, April 26, 2025 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: CPL Legler Regional Library, Garfield Park
Plus one more to be determined!
