BES Unites Home and School Through One School One Book Family Reading Program

Burnsville Elementary students will bring home a copy of The Water Horse, by Dick King-Smith, and begin reading it with their families on Monday, September 11th. During the month of September, students and families will read the book together at home while celebrating and exploring the novel at school. It’s all part of a unique, national family literacy program called One School, One Book from non-profit Read to Them designed to strengthen the educational connection between home and school.
“Reading a common book together turns out to be a terrific way to unite a school community and increase parental involvement. Reading aloud at home ensures students come to school prepared to read and to succeed – in school and in life,” explains Read to Them Director of Programs, Bruce Coffey.
BES will join the schools and districts across North America who have undertaken this family literacy strategy. Families will read and discuss the adventures of Kristie and her little brother, Angus, as they find a mysterious egg on the beach and hatch it in the bathtub. In school, students will answer trivia questions and engage in creative extension activities.
One School One Book is the flagship program of Read to Them, a national non-profit based in Richmond, Virginia. The organization’s mission is to create a culture of literacy in every community. “The secret sauce of family literacy is to create a symbiosis between home and school. When students see their book being read and shared and discussed at home and school, they are surrounded by the culture of literacy,” explains Read to Them Director of Programs, Bruce Coffey.
“Prior to coming to BES, I had only heard about One School, One Book,” explains Dr. Grace Wine, Burnsville Elementary’s principal. “After witnessing the excitement of students, I’m confident that our book selections for this year will ignite enthusiasm about reading in our school community. I can’t wait to start hearing and joining in the conversations The Water Horse will spark in the days ahead.”
Read to Them’s family literacy programs have reached over 2 million families in over 3,000 schools in all 50 states (and 6 Canadian provinces). A continually growing body of research demonstrates that children who are read to at home are better prepared to read, succeed in school, and graduate. For further information, visit www.readtothem.org