Research shows young children who are read to aloud have better language and literacy skills when they start school.
To help inspire parents across South Florida to read with their children and expose young kids to the joys of reading the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe participated in the national Read for the Record campaign, the world’s largest shared reading experience, on Oct. 19.
For the event, the Early Learning Coalition expanded the one-day activity to a week-long effort, partnering with various community organizations including HistoryMiami, the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami-Dade Public Library System, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Children of Inmates, United Way–Reading Pals, Miami-Dade Family Learning Partnerships, and Stop Parenting Alone to host a series of interactive readings of the Read for the Record’s 2017 book, Quackers by Liz Wong.
The organization, which works to ensure low-income young children across both counties enter school ready to succeed, took the lead role in distributing the selected book in English and Spanish to more than 3,650 young children across South Florida.
“We are excited to once again participate in this national event that celebrates the power of reading,” said Evelio C. Torres, president and CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe. “Throughout the years and via our participation in this event we’ve helped expand thousands of in-home libraries for our community’s youngest residents.”
Since the organization began participating in the Read for the Record event, it has put thousands of selected books in the hands of children and teachers.
The Early Learning Coalition of Miami‐Dade/Monroe is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that children in Miami‐Dade and Monroe counties have an opportunity to receive high‐quality early education. The organization was established following the enactment of the 1999 School Readiness Act. The Early Learning Coalition supports the school readiness of more than 50,000 children ages birth to 12 years old through a variety of innovative prekindergarten and early learning programs, while also encouraging parental involvement in the quest for educational success.
Through a community‐based, collaborative approach, the Early Learning Coalition of Miami‐ Dade/Monroe is committed to promoting early learning, advocating for better public policies on behalf of children, and preparing every child for success in both school and life.
