Raising A Reader MA – A Story of Appreciation
December 19, 2011
“What more could a school ask for? Children are being motivated to read and parents are excited about reading with their child at home.” So writes Mr. Jason DiCarlo, Principal of the Charlotte M. Murkland Elementary School in Lowell, MA on September 15, 2011. Raising A Reader MA was launched in Lowell in 2010 thanks to a grant from the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. At a United Way event on September 16, 2011 hosted at Eastern Bank, Principal DiCarlo presented Raising A Reader MA with a letter thanking us for the work we do in his school. We have to talk about how great we are, but Principal DiCarlo doesn’t. Here’s what he says, “The Raising A Reader program is one that students, staff, and families at the Murkland School feel fortunate to have as a resource in helping to build early literacy reading skills.”
Principal DiCarlo goes on to say he’s grateful for the books, red book bags, staff training, multilingual training DVDs, parent training and support offered by the Raising A Reader MA team to the Pre-K teachers at his school who are implementing our program. “There are many reasons why this program is so well received by teachers and families. Raising A Reader MA does an excellent job at providing all the resources that are needed for a successful partnership between families and school in supporting literacy at home.” Mr. DiCarlo specifically mentions the effect that the trainings have on the families and teachers at the Murkland School, “Parents leave the training feeling comfortable, confident, and empowered to help their child at home while supporting their early literacy development. School staff feels supported because there is collaboration between the classroom teacher and the staff from Raising A Reader throughout the year to sustain and monitor the success of the program.”
Cesarina Gonzalez, the Regional Program Manager for Raising A Reader MA in Lowell, MA agrees that part of what makes Raising A Reader MA so successful in the Murkland School is the administration. “There is a great team, everyone is committed to serving families and making a difference. They have worked hard to create an environment where they are making a difference and people feel welcome and a part of the program. The administration and teachers at the Murkland School are very eager and the children are very diverse and ready to learn. Teachers are willing to go the extra mile and put in the time and effort. That makes the program run smoother and makes it so much more effective.”
Parents and teachers who participate in Raising A Reader MA are agreeing to more than just reading at home. They are also committing to change the way they read with their children, the frequency with which they read with their children, and the importance they place on reading at home. What they are doing is working together to lay the foundation for future school success. Research has shown that when children have gone through our program they enter Kindergarten more prepared to learn and thus do better in school.
We appreciate that others are recognizing the great work that Raising A Reader MA is doing and we’d like to offer a special thank you to Principal DiCarlo for taking the time to express his gratitude to Raising A Reader MA.
Reflect or Take Action:
-If you know someone in the Raising A Reader MA program, discuss the effects that this program is having.