Something new started at Rise Above. We set aside time for our school age children to read to our younger ones, as part of our new Early Literacy Program. A school ager and a little one sit down together on purpose, with a book between them.
Here is how it works. A school ager picks a book and settles in with a toddler or a preschooler. They read out loud, holding the book up so their buddy can see the pictures. For every five books they read to a younger child, they earn a reward.
The younger child gains a great deal from being read to. They hear new words, follow a story from beginning to end, and learn that a book holds something worth sitting still for.
The school ager gains just as much. Reading out loud is how fluency grows. They slow down. They say each word clearly. They notice when their buddy drifts and put more life into their voice. Every session is real reading practice, and it counts.
There is a quieter gain as well. A school ager who reads to a three year old is trusted with a real job, and they do it well. That kind of responsibility follows a child back into their own classroom.
We are keeping count of the books together. Reaching five is a goal our children can see and reach, and the next five gives them a reason to pick up another book.
