GREENFIELD — More than a dozen young children sat in a circle Wednesday, wide-eyed and wondering what Pete the cat was going to do next.
There’s not a whole lot that’s more satisfying than being afforded the opportunity to watch the faces of young children as you read to them. I got to read “Pete The Cat: Too Cool for School” to 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds in one of the YMCA’s two preschool classes on Wednesday.
The United Way of Franklin County is sending more than 30 volunteers into schools across the county to read to some of the youngest students. “Read! Learn! Succeed!” is the organization’s early reading initiative.
United Way of Franklin County Executive Director Kelly Brigham-Steiner said volunteers have said they love doing it. She said some have been doing it for years, while others who recently retired and moved away said they are going to look for a similar program in their new communities.
In partnership with the Greenfield Kiwanis Club and with help from Health New England, the nonprofit facilitates a monthly story time in 25 preschool classrooms across the county, sending volunteers to read to and interact with students. At the end of the story time, each child receives a copy of that month’s book to take home and add to their library.
“We have tremendous community support for this program,” Brigham-Steiner said. “We recognize the gaps in reading skills and address them early on. Race and income tend to make those gaps even bigger, and we want to improve children’s chances for academic and lifetime success.”
Brigham-Steiner said the program is designed to build vocabulary, brain development, bonds with adults and more. It is also meant to boost children’s emotional and physical well-being, as well as families’ home-based libraries.
She said the program not only sends every child home with the book of the month, but also sends tips to parents.
“According to Massachusetts statistics, 49 percent of fourth-graders are not proficient in reading,” she said. “The good news is that more than half of them are proficient. But it’s so critical for adults to help build those skills and create those bonds.”
Brigham-Steiner said she is amazed that such a simple act — engaging with young children — makes such a difference.
“And, it’s as much fun for the adults as it is for the children,” she said.
Lisa Jackson, the YMCA’s early education director, said students in the Y’s preschool love being read to, and they love meeting new visitors, so volunteers are always welcome.
“I think it’s a great program,” Jackson said. “It’s bringing our students a real love for reading and being read to. And, there’s a big family piece, because they each get a copy of the new book each month.”
Jackson said parents are also excited about the program, recounting how one parent walked in after the last reading and said to her child, “Hey, we have a new book to read at home.”
The Y’s preschool has two classrooms: The Explorer Room is for 4- and 5-year-olds and the Rainbow Room is for children ages 2 years and 9 months to 3 years and 11 months.
“We have a well-rounded preschool with an emphasis on pre-reading and pre-math in a play-based format,” Jackson said. “The reading program fits in nicely. We also having swimming and gymnastics. We also have a part-time person who works with children on specific skills in reading and math.”
Jackson said 19 children are currently in the Explorer Room and seven are in the Rainbow Room.
“We have room for seven more in the younger room,” she noted.
Jackson said the Y preschool is open 50 weeks a year, including on snow days and on limited holidays, and offers early and late services to working parents. She said a “huge focus” is on social and emotional skills and problem-solving.
To become a United Way reading volunteer or a “community builder” sponsor by giving $8 per month, email: avalbona@uw.fc.org.
To learn more about the preschool program at the Y, contact Jackson at 413-773-3646, ext. 431, or email her at: ljackson@ymcaingreenfield.org.
Reach Anita Fritz at
413-772-0261, ext. 269 or afritz@recorder.com.