Building a community of readers in Idaho

Librarians statewide have been calling on parents to turn off the TVs and other electronics for a few minutes daily Nov. 16-22 - Idaho Family Reading Week - and read aloud with their children. (Of course e-books are OK.)

Families play a critical role in sharing the joy of reading and creating lifelong learners. But sometimes they can get caught up in life's chaos and time to read gets lost among other activities.

Studies show that reading to infants, toddlers and preschoolers improves their language development and desire to read. There are direct, positive correlations between children's exposure to literature and their vocabulary and sentence structure.

Lamentably, Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI) results from the Idaho State Department of Education suggest that families aren't reading enough during this critical period. Nearly half of Gem State children entering kindergarten this fall - 46 percent - were unprepared for the classroom, according to results from 2014-2015 fall IRI assessments. And an alarming number of Idaho students don't become proficient readers by the third grade - what The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading considers the No. 1 predictor of high school graduation and career success.

The end of third grade is a pivot point where children not only are learning to read, but also are reading to learn. Students who don't read at grade level by then often struggle academically and are more likely to drop out of school. Yet, spring IRI assessments from the 2013-2014 school year reveal 26 percent of Idaho third-graders performed under benchmark levels. The problem appears to be especially prevalent among children from lower-income families, who are less likely to have access to learning resources like books at home.

For those who don't have the means to buy their own books, libraries can make all the difference in the world.

With generous support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Micron Foundation, libraries throughout the state are helping us celebrate the 18th annual Idaho Family Reading Week by hosting events that reinforce the fun and value of reading. This year's theme is an especially playful one: building a community of readers.

This annual observation is a component of our Read to Me campaign, which provides information, training, technical assistance, and resources for Idaho librarians and their community partners. The Commission's vision is for all parents and caregivers to nurture their children's early literacy skills and for all kids to develop as independent readers and become lifelong learners. Hopefully it inspires families to spend more time reading - not just during Idaho Family Reading Week but every day.

I'm not suggesting it's a cure-all, but reading aloud to children just 15 minutes a day can have huge, lasting impacts - even with kids who already know how to read on their own. Strong reading skills aren't just critical to success in the classroom, they're also essential to Idaho's long-term economic health and our efforts to prepare the next generation to participate in higher education and succeed in the global economy.

Please visit libraries.idaho.gov/read-to-me for more details about Idaho Family Reading Week and other Read to Me programs. The site has tools everyone from teachers and library staff to families and child-care providers will find useful in laying the foundation for our children's success.

Ann Joslin is the Idaho State Librarian.