In the 2008-2009 program year, Raising A Reader MA (RAR MA) served 5655 children at 481 sites in the Greater Boston area and the City of Lawrence. Of this total, 274 were new sites serving a capacity of 2891 children. These newly launched sites included 168 family childcare providers, 99 classrooms, 5 playgroups, and 2 home visiting programs. Many of the participating families also participated in a pre- and post- survey, which aims to analyze the impact of the Raising A Reader program on family behavior of sharing books with their children.
Behavior Change
After participating in Raising A Reader, 85% of families are now sharing books 3+ times/week compared to 68% before the program. This reflects a 17 percentage point and 25% increase. 100% of those who were not sharing books 3+ times/week before the program were sharing at least at that frequency afterwards.
In addition, families reported an increase in their supportive and interactive behavior while sharing books with their children. Parents reported on the post-survey that they changed their behaviors with an increase of the following dialogic reading strategies: asking questions, talking about the pictures, singing songs, and making up their own stories.
Children had a corresponding increase in their own interactive behaviors during shared reading: asking and answering questions, listening, turning the pages, and reading/telling the story to the adult.
Program Usage
Results show that program dosage and services used affects parent behavior:
90% of families who received the bags at least three times a month reported sharing books 3+ times/week compared to 81% who received the books two times a month or less.
89% of respondents who reported at least one of these training activities (n=219) – workshop about shared reading, video about shared reading, or other – were sharing books 3+ times/week, compared to 77% of those who participated in no activities (n=52).
Families who responded to both surveys (matched pairs) who reported watching a video about shared reading increased from 58% sharing books 3+ times/week before the program to 92% after (34 points and 59% increase).
Matched pair families who either watched a video or watched a video and attended a training increased from 64% to 95% sharing books 3+times/week (29 points and 45% increase).
Parent Comments
After receiving the red bag of RAR my child loves to read more. We read the same books every week about 3 times a day that’s how much he enjoys the books. Thanks RAR!!
- Breen Public School, Lawrence
My child and I both are satisfied with RAR. Whoever came up with this idea we cannot thank you enough. I really hope that this program continues. It’s great not only for the children but for adults as well.
- CAAS Head Start, Cambridge
For me it is the best thing for the children because my son at the age of 9 months (ever since) enjoys reading and seeing the pictures. (Translated from Spanish)
-YWCA, Lawrence
I am home with my son and I have seen incredible improvement in his interest in books dancing and singing since beginning RAR. He will bring books to me – especially out of his red RAR bag. He loves getting his bag every week.
-Malden Everett Family Network, Tri-City Area
Cumulative Results
RAR MA has been collecting parent surveys in new partner programs since the first launch in Spring 2006. The years of research have yielded impressive results in the increase of frequency of sharing books 3+ times/week. Cumulative results can be broken down by program area as well as partner program type.
