The Magic of Humor: A Review of The Mercy Watson Series

The Mercy Watson Series Author-Kate DeCamillo    Illustrator- Chris Van Dusen  Fountas and Pinnell level-K The Magic of Humor – Book Review by Marsha Schlanger The Mercy Watson Series by Kate DiCamillo is a delight for many young readers. These stories are witty, funny, and are bound to engage even the most shy, reluctant readers. Mercy Watson is a selfish, good-natured, […]

STS! Celebrates 15 Years at Sam Hughes Elementary

On a sunny, 90+ degree day in October of this year, the Stories that Soar! team brought their A-game to the stage at Sam Hughes Elementary. The performance marked the 15 year anniversary of our relationship with Sam Hughes Elementary. That’s fifteen years of incredible student stories coming to life on stage. After the show, […]

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett – Book Review by Violet

Extra Yarn Mac Barnett Book Review

Extra Yarn Author-Mac Barnett    Illustrator-Jon Klassen    Fountas and Pinnell level-L   Extra Yarn, a Caldecott honor book and a New York Times bestseller, is a story about a little girl named Annabelle who finds a box full of colorful yarn. Annabelle does the only sensible thing to do when one finds a box […]

Exploring Literacy in Mexico

Photo by Jessica Dennes - Guanajuato at Sundown from a Rooftop Terrace

This week we have a guest blog from Jessica Dennes, our Reading Seed Coach Manager and Trainer. Over the summer she studied literacy abroad in Mexico and reflects on her experiences below. As the Volunteer Manager and Trainer for the Reading Seed program of Literacy Connects, I am naturally curious about literacy in various settings. So it […]

220% Improvement in Kindergarteners’ Reading From Literacy Connects Pilot Program

Kindergartners at Keeling Elementary have made astonishing strides in their reading skills, their attitudes about reading, and their classroom engagement after participation in Literacy Connects’ Reading Seed Kinder Project pilot. Literacy Connects Takes Pride In Our Flexible Programming In response to a significant population of struggling readers at Keeling Elementary, Literacy Connects created a year-long, […]

Passing on the Invaluable Gift of Literacy

English Language Acquisition for Adults Tutor

Defining Literacy What is literacy? In my mind, it is being able to both give and receive thoughts and ideas in the process of interconnecting with the world around us. Other people are a very big part of that world, and I believe that reading, writing, listening, speaking, signing, and miming are all activities through […]

Meet New Board Member Thom Cope

We’re pleased to announce the election of Thom Cope onto Literacy Connects’ Board of Directors. Thom is an attorney at Mesch Clark Rothschild. He has served on the Literacy Connects Awareness/Capacity committee for three years. He is passionate about education and understands full well the power of reading and the dearth of opportunity for those […]

Reading Seed Grows Free Book Distribution by 62%!

Reading Seed Free Book Distribution 2012-2013 Books to Reading Seed Students via Coaches (Book Total = 12,347) Reading Coaches give these books to students participating in the Reading Seed program to help them build home libraries and increase their motivation to read outside of school and coaching sessions. Books for Teachers Award Winners (Book Total […]

Congratulations to Reading Seed’s 2013 Bike Giveaway Winners!

Thanks to the continued generosity of Ajo Bikes, Reading Seed was thrilled to once again finish the school year by giving away 10 new bicycles to 10 lucky Reading Seed students.  All Reading Seed students are eligible for the Bike Giveaway drawing when their Reading Coach completes a year-end survey.   Reading Seed coaches and […]