Governor Deval Patrick has again proclaimed November to be Massachusetts Family Literacy Month:

Whereas Parents are their children’s earliest and most continuous teachers, and play a critical role in their children’s school success from birth through career and college readiness; and

Whereas Along with schools and local communities, parents are critical to the success of education reform and responsible for the future of education in theBayState; and

Whereas Families benefit from learning together and being involved in literacy and educational activities at home, school, and in the community; and

 Whereas Communities, libraries and schools provide family engagement opportunities that support children’s language and literacy development; and

 Whereas The Massachusetts Family Literacy Consortium brings state agencies and family serving organizations together to support community efforts that promote early literacy and reading proficiency by the end of third grade to give children a foundation for success in school; and

 Whereas The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a tradition of commitment to universal literacy and family literacy,

 Now, Therefore, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim November 2012, to be

 FAMILY LITERACY MONTH

 And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

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Raising A Reader MA is celebrating on Thursday, November 15th at a special breakfast event, Celebrating Reading, Family-Style, at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Please join us to  enjoy breakfast while talking with other parents about their strategies for developing a culture of reading and early literacy at home. Ticket prices are $100 per person, or $750 for a table for ten. Register online or call the office to learn more, 617.292.BOOK (2665).

Can’t join us for this event? No worries! Visit our calendar for a list of celebrations across the Commonwealth, including Chelsea Literacy Day on Saturday, November 3rd at the Chelsea Public Library and Family Literacy Fun Day in Lawrence on Saturday, November 10th in the Lawrence Public Library.  Here you will learn reading strategies with your children, play fun reading games, and enjoy visits with book characters and other VIPs.