We are excited to announce a weekly gathering opportunity for families. Starting at the end of February, LIFRC will be hosting two Prime Time Reading Programs, a Preschool session for children aged 3-5 and their families, and an Elementary session for students aged 6-10 and their families.
Prime Time is a six-week initiative designed to promote family engagement and literacy. During each weekly session, families come together to share dinner, read stories with skilled moderators, and engage in discussions and activities centered around ideas and themes found in children’s literature. We have chosen bilingual books -which each participating member will get to keep- and hired bilingual community members, in order to have rich discussions in all members’ native languages.
Families will gather each session over a nutritious, hot meal that is culturally diverse. The Lopez Island PTSA and a homeschool group are donating delicious dinners, and meals will be purchased from local restaurants and a new Lopez Latina catering group.
Sharing a meal creates an atmosphere of warmth and togetherness, setting the stage for meaningful discussions and bonding. A shared meal ensures that families have the sustenance they need to fully engage in the program.
Prime Time is a program of Humanities Washington, and as they put it best, “the activities give families the tools to dig deeper into the big ideas in children’s literature, inspiring them to read, connect, discuss, and learn together. Prime Time enhances family engagement and builds critical thinking skills, constructing a strong foundation to support a lifelong love of reading.” The bilingual books chosen will spark discussions around themes such as connection, community, perspective, courage, and more.
This is a whole community endeavor, with multiple organizations participating in various ways. Lopez Island School District and the Lopez Children’s Center are so excited to have another great literacy opportunity for their students. Lopez Library will be hosting “library commercials” that highlight various parts of the library and how it relates to our island’s younger population. LIFRC continues to work with all of our partners to help provide enriching and engaging opportunities for our youngest learners to create a brighter future!
The grant received from Humanities Washington and generous donations from within our community have helped to create a welcoming environment for families as we embark on this literacy journey. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of families in our community, fostering a love of reading and promoting family engagement.
If you are interested in signing up for this program, please click the button below.