Phoenix Public Library is offering parents the chance to help their children improve their reading skills through free monthly reading level screenings for students in first through third grades.
“Lots of parents come in very worried that their kids are not reading at grade level,” says Carol Finch, children and teen service coordinator for Phoenix Public Library. “The screenings are free tools to help parents and children understand where they are in regards to grade reading levels.”
The screenings are facilitated by the Arizona Literacy and Learning Center. Four different locations offer the screenings from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on various Saturdays – Burton Barr Library on the first Saturday of each month, Mesquite Library on the second Saturday, Cesar Chavez Library on the third Saturday and Cholla Library on the fourth Saturday of each month. The screenings will go through July of this year.
Phoenix Public Library also offers annual summer and winter reading programs to encourage children to read for the fun and for families to read together. The winter programs go from January to March and the summer program from Memorial Day to the last Saturday in July. The programs allow children to read at the library or at home with their parents, earning incentives as they go.
For one- to five-year olds, “Step into Reading,” Storytimes and Babytimes are offered in English and Spanish to give parents tips and the tools to help their children become readers. No registration is required.
“It’s a modeling and mentoring program for parents and entertainment for children,” Finch said. “We encourage parents to share books with their children from the moment they are born.”
For more information on dates and times visit the Phoenix Public Library website www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org.
