Together Event Jan 2012

For Family Literacy Day, a group of us from work volunteered to read to kids at Marlborough Elementary School during an event put on by Calgary Reads. Calgary Reads is a non-profit organization promoting literacy in Calgary and helping those kids who are struggling. They have 400 tutors working one-on-one with hundreds of kids, and several other programs for parents, children, and schools, with plenty of volunteer opportunities.

Each of us sat down with a cluster of Grade 1 or 2 kids and read books. The time flew by. We read for 20 minutes but some of us didn’t even finish one book—a tribute to the power of storytelling as kids asked questions, expressed their opinions, analyzed artwork.  The gym buzzed with the sound of 50 volunteers sharing the joy of reading with 80 children.

And when we were done our official duties, the storytelling continued. People told tales of reading to their own kids. Of their kids growing up. Of their childhood.  It continued as we told others about our experience that morning. It will keep on going. Storytelling has no end. You don’t have to write novels or recite The Cremation of Sam McGee from memory to be a storyteller. It is how we communicate every day. It is how we learned all that we did since evolution steered us onto this road, with stories winding through millennia, shifting forms.

Think how frustrating it would be to not be able to read the stories your peers are devouring. In Calgary, 1 in 4 children is behind in their literacy skills by grade 2 and may never catch up. Stories are an essential part of our lives. Yes we can tell them to each other vocally, or watch them on TV, or see them in theatres. But a huge number of stories are written. Not just books, but e-mails, letters, sticky-notes, road signs, text messages, blogs, social media. We are a very textual society. And inspiring a child to read by reading to them—or even so much as letting them see you reading—can make a huge difference down the road.

Celebrate literacy by writing down one of your own stories, or reading one to someone else.

Steacy Collyer, Calgary Reads’s Executive Director, has this advice for how to make Calgary – and the world – a better place:

1.       Read

2.       Read to someone else

3.       Read every day that you eat

I’m pretty sure we can all handle that. And if you have some spare time, volunteer to read with a struggling student for a little while each week. You’ll change their life.

- Written by Jenna, a Calgary Reads volunteer.

Recently Mayor Nenshi’s Civic Engagement Committee launched a new initiative – 3 Things for Calgary – which asks us to imagine every Calgarian getting involved in three ways to make our city even better. It’s a simple concept:  think of three things you can do to make your community better, do them, and then tell three people about what you did.

If you are having trouble deciding upon your three things, here’s a suggestion for your first one.   Consider becoming a trained volunteer tutor with Calgary Reads. By spending two hours a week during the school day with a struggling reader in Grade 1 or 2, you will make a real difference in that child’s life. Because early literacy skills are fundamental building blocks to future success, it’s a difference that will last forever.

So join the growing team of Calgary Reads volunteers. You will make a difference in the life of a young reader and you will be off to a great start on accomplishing your 3 Things for Calgary!

Learn more about volunteering with Calgary Reads at www.calgaryreads.com or email Calgary Reads at info@calgaryreads.com.

“Now that I’m done reading the fairy series, I’m reading puppy books.”

Seven year old Victoria glows as she shares her newfound excitement for reading. She’s starting off Grade 3 as an enthusiastic reader, but when she was in Grade 2 she was identified as a struggling reader. She worked with her Calgary Reads tutor, Shauna, twice a week for sixteen weeks. Victoria looked forward to her one-on-one sessions with Shauna and still runs to greet her at the school. Her confidence grew and now she reads because she wants to, not because she has to. Victoria has big plans. She reads every day and hopes to someday start reading the Harry Potter series.

To share in the inspiration, read Richard Bird’s speaking notes here.

Richard Bird speaking notes, Calgary Reads Corporate Partnership Breakfast
September 8, 2011

Thank you Dave and thanks to everyone here this morning.

This is a great time of year for this event. Across Calgary nearly 150, 000 students are heading back to class, starting the year with high hopes and enthusiasm. Many of those students will race forward in their studies without more than the occasional and manageable difficulty or speed bump along the way. But some students will experience a more fundamental challenge, and that’s why we’re here today.
Literacy is one of the cornerstones of educational, career and life success. It’s easy to think of a childhood reading problem as affecting only student work in the language-based courses like English or Social Studies. But when you see a child who understands the math concepts, but can’t read the questions, or the one who loves science but can’t read the instructions for a lab experiment, you begin to appreciate just how important literacy is in every aspect of a child’s studies.

Early reading skills create a lifetime of opportunities and open doors that otherwise remain closed.

Which is why the impact that Calgary Reads has through its early literacy initiative is so important. The Society’s work is an investment in the potential and the long-term success of each child that it helps and in the community we share.

Thank you again, for joining us this morning, at the start of a new school year, to lend your support to Calgary Reads and the tremendous positive impact they are having on Calgary, one young reader at a time.

Here are the training session dates and locations for your calendar. We hope to see you soon!

School Coordinator Training

None at this time

Level 1 Training

Monday, February 13, 2012 10 – 2 at McKenzie Towne School

Thursday, February 23, 2012 11 – 3 at Buchanan School

Tuesday, March 13, 2012 10 – 2 at Guy Weadick School

Level 2 Training – to be completed after tutoring 6-8 sessions

Thursday, February 9, 2012 5:30 – 8:30 at Valley View School

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 9:30 – 12:30 at Jennie Elliott School

Thursday, March 8, 2012 noon – 3:00 at Annie Foote School

Wednesday, March 28, 2012 5:30 – 8:30 at Valley View School

ESL4ELL Training

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 noon – 3:00 at Valley View School

We have temporarily (and very suddenly) moved out of our office this summer while Valley View School undergoes renovations to remove asbestos. Exciting things are always happening at Calgary Reads and as a result of our continued success, our office space at Valley View is getting tighter. We would love a new home. Do you have excess space that could accommodate a great group like Calgary Reads? Do you know of a place in the heart of Calgary that would welcome us? If you do, we’d love to talk to you about it. Contact Executive Director Steacy Collyer at slcollyer@cbe.ab.ca.

We kicked off our busy Stampede on July 7 at the CBC Calgary Stampede Breakfast along with thousands of other eager pancake eaters. Mayor Nenshi stopped by and had his photo taken with Executive Director Steacy Collyer. Mayor Nenshi will be reading to children at our Together Event in January 2012.

On July 14 we attended the DeVry Stampede BBQ where we watched some of DeVry’s great staff, including President Ranil Herath, get soaked in the dunk tank to raise money for Calgary Reads. Our Calgary Reads booth was well attended at both events by lots of little cowboys and cowgirls who made customized bookmarks, sat in our colourful kid tents and read books. Calgary Reads staff passed out bookmarks and booklets and chatted to those waiting in line. We had many engaging conversations with those in the community and spread the word about the importance of literacy and the need for volunteers.

We were thrilled to be invited on July 16 by our corporate partner Chevron Canada Limited to their Stampede event. The afternoon started with a delicious barbecue and entertainment in the Rangeland Tent at the Stampede grounds, and moved on to the Grandstand for exciting rodeo semi-finals.
Thanks CBC Calgary, DeVry and Chevron Canada Limited for your hoedown hospitality and your continued support.