History
Since 50% of Minnesota children are coming to school not ready for kindergarten, Project Read is being formed in the International Falls Area in the fall of 2006 as a community/school collaborative.
Mission
To educate the community about the importance of reading to young children.
Vision
Includes the following three components:
* Put books in the hands of all area youth.
* Educate families about the importance of early reading, emergent literacy, and school preparation.
* Establish relationships and make connections that will continue throughout the later school years. These will enable us to produce better relationships between children, families, community, and school staff as well as see stronger families through more parent involvement with the schools!
Core Values
Our goals are supported by the following brain research and by the values of the members of our group:
* Since more than 90% of a child's brain has grown by age three, educators know that success in school depends upon what happens in these early years at home. The
current brain research has shown us that early stimulation of the brain has a profound effect on the development of a child's emotional well-being, language, vision, and motor control.
* By using a shared focus and collaboration among agencies and the school district we can support and lay the groundwork for vocabulary and later educational success by stressing the importance of learning readiness for all children entering kindergarten.
* Children who are not raised in a language rich environment (not read to, not played with, not talked to) develop brains that are 20% to 30% smaller than normal, so attachment to cargivers is a must!
Purpose
Project Read is made up of community and school volunteers who stronly believe that we can make a difference with a small amount of money and a lot of community/school in-kind services.
Local Contacts
Gail Rasmussen, retired first grade ISD 361 teacher
LeAnne Meer, community engagement director of Kootasca Community Action, Inc
| 
