ReadyKids! on mission to maximize children’s potential through increased school readiness
Every year on March 2, the National Education Association celebrates Read Across America Day, the nation’s largest celebration of reading, to kick off National Reading Month. This year, local nonprofit ReadyKids! requested Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves issue an official proclamation to be celebrated as Read Across Pensacola Day. The recognition was a momentous milestone as we collectively work to become America’s First Early Learning City. We know that by instilling the joy of reading in young children we help them become lifelong learners.
ReadyKids! has a mission to maximize children’s potential through increased school readiness. This is of critical importance as only 42% of Escambia County kindergarteners came to school ready to learn in 2021 per state assessments. That ranks us 54th out of 67 counties in the state and lower than the state-wide readiness rate of 50%. We are grateful to the mayor and to the early education agencies and advocates who recognize the significance of school readiness not only for the quality of life of our children and families but for the future workforce of our local economy. Children who are prepared for kindergarten are more likely to read on grade level in third grade, perform on grade level in seventh grade math, and are more likely to graduate high school. Dr. Jerry Parish, chief economist with the Florida Chamber Foundation, has often advised, “If you want to improve a community, teach kids to read.”
Our elected officials are preparing for the 2023 Florida Legislative Session to convene on March 7, and there will be much conversation around funding Florida’s early learning programs, increasing options for parents, and celebrating and supporting early learning educators. Here at home, you can get involved and become part of the solution: Join the ReadyKids! mission as a ReadingPal. The ReadingPals program is a state-wide early literacy effort that began right here in Escambia County and is now supported by the Children’s Movement of Florida in over 20 counties. Our ReadingPals program helps improve our highest-need prekindergarten students' school readiness levels by activating community volunteers and pairing them with a 4-year-old in a high-need classroom for weekly one-on-one mentoring sessions.
ReadyKids! provides training, credentialing, and ongoing support to volunteers as they mentor their ReadingPal and increase their social-emotional and early literacy skills. Early literacy skills are built by practicing letters, sounds, and numbers, playing games, using Play-Doh and art supplies, and, of course, reading stories. Social-emotional development is particularly important for 4-year-olds to build a strong foundation of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, interpersonal skills, and decision-making skills, all of which are vital for success in kindergarten and indeed life.
The role of the ReadingPal extends beyond supporting literacy skill development: We want every student to be motivated to learn to read and to know that there are people in their community, outside of their family and school, who truly care about them. It gives them a broader trust of the world. Underpinning the entire program is the goal to instill that joyful love of learning and reading in each child who participates.
As we head into National Reading Month and a new legislative session, our children are counting on us to advocate and show up for them. We hope you will join us as we invest in our youngest citizens and help them prepare for day one of kindergarten and beyond.
Ruth Noel is executive director of ReadyKids!
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: ReadyKids! on mission to maximize children’s potential
