What's Happening
7th Annual Bob Johnson Charity Golf Classic 09/24/11
An exciting event helping to develop youth around the globe.
Summer Literacy Program Begins 05/24/11
Looking for a place to make a difference? Have some time and energy to give? Check out Read, Write to Lead!
Enabling Students to Achieve Their Dreams 05/24/11
A university scholarship program develops in El Triángulo de la Solidaridad.
Developing Community in San Antonio 04/23/11
BWAB SA has worked to establish several areas of community development within the San Antonio area over the last year...
Summer Literacy Program Begins: Read, Write to Lead
Looking for a place to make a difference? Have some time and energy to give?
Time is one of the most important and lasting things you can ever offer someone and one of the biggest ways to make a difference in a person's life. Whether you can come once or come often, come and be part of watching children's lives change through reading.
Give us a call at 210.858.1580 or shoot us an email. We'd love to talk to you!
What is Read, Write to Lead?
Read, Write to Lead Rosemont is a six-week summer literacy program that is taking place on the south east side of San Antonio in an apartment complex called Rosemont at Highland Park. This reading program is designed to not only help children maintain reading levels during the summer, but to increase their levels of reading as well as encourage more positive attitudes towards reading. Based on the success of the summer program, Read, Write to Lead Rosemont could possibly continue throughout the year as a weekend reading club.
Why Rosemont at Highland Park Apartments?
Boy with a Ball San Antonio has been partnering with the Good Neighbor Program at Rosemont since 2010. In being there each week and offering homework help to the students, we have learned that one of the major issues facing this community is low reading levels, which in turn impacts overall academic abilities.
Internships and community service hours are available for students
Why focus on reading and writing?
In an article in My San Antonio, John Clamp, District 10 San Antonio City councilman, wrote that literacy and economic development go hand in hand. He went on to say that twenty-five percent of our residents can't read. Census data report San Antonio ranks seventh in population but 60th in literacy. We have the second-highest illiteracy rate among major Texas cities, and our high school dropout rate is worse than any other major U.S. city.
In a joint position statement of the International Reading Association (IRA) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), learning to read and write is said to be "critical to a child's success in school and later in life" and that "although reading and writing abilities continue to develop throughout the lifespan, the early childhood years - from birth through age eight -are the most important period for literacy development."
How can you get involved in Read, Write to Lead at Rosemont?
Books, books and more books!
One of the components of the program is helping youth and families begin to build their own library and develop habits to become life-long readers. The more books we get, the more books each person and family will receive.
Volunteer
As mentioned earlier, time is one of the most important and lasting things you can ever offer someone and one of the biggest ways to make a difference in a person’s life. Whether you can come once or come often, come and be part of watching children’s lives change through reading.
Use your voice and help raise awareness and support
The more people that know and support this program, the better it will do and the bigger impact it will make.
In-kind and monetary donations
Any kind of school supplies, materials, and again, books are welcomed! Also, you can donate for this program specifically through our online donation portal or you can mail a check to our P.O Box 14387 San Antonio Texas 78214. Just make a note that it is for the Rosemont Literacy Program.
Program Details
There will be two focus groups ages 4-7 and 8-10. Middle school and high school aged kids interested in the program will be trained as volunteers. Research has shown that in helping, they will learn as well.
Objectives
- Increase level of learning through reading and writing
- Improve attitudes towards reading and writing, including encouraging students to become life-long readers/writers
- Begin to build personal libraries with each young person
- Train parents to be resources for their children encouraging family connectedness and development
Timeline
| June 18, 2011 | Read/Write to Lead Rosemont Program Kickoff/Community Event |
| June 20, 2011 | Training Day for Volunteers |
| June 21, 2011 | First day of Read/Write to Lead program |
| July 28, 2011 | Last day of Read/Write to Lead program |
| July 30, 2011 | Parent Night/Project Presentation and close of Read/Write to Lead Rosemont program |
Hours
Ongoing Volunteer Training: 12:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Mondays)
Program: 12:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays)
For further information or any questions, please contact Anna Currie at the Boy with a Ball offices by calling 210.858.1580 or through email. We are looking forward to hearing from you!
