Featured in The Republican: Books Deliver Reading Success

October 20, 2020

Reading Success by 4th Grade Distributes More Than 3,000 Books to Local Families During Pandemic

Reading Success by 4th Grade (RS4G) has distributed more than 3,000 books to local families since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The vast book distribution was made possible through a collaborative effort between Reading Success by 4th Grade, New England Public Media, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and Raising a Reader of Massachusetts.

RS4G gave out books, puppets, coloring books, and art activities to numerous community organizations directly serving families with young children, first concentrating on infants, toddlers, and young children not yet enrolled in school or center care; then to outreach services like home visiting, parenting, and transitional programs. Later, the focus shifted to partner organizations that could distribute to children they are serving.

RS4G also distributed books to the 12 essential family child cares that remained open during the height of the pandemic (March to June) and served children of essential employees.

Organizations that received books from Reading Success by 4th Grade include: Horizons for Homeless Children; Square One Center and Child Care; Springfield Diaper Bank; Springfield North WIC Breastfeeding Support Group; Head Start Pre-K and Migrant Programs; Educare Springfield; YMCA of Greater Springfield; Boys & Girls Club Family Center; Springfield Boys & Girls Club; South End Community Center; Springfield Partners for Community Action Early Learning Center; Clarendon Early Education; and the 12 essential family child cares in Springfield.

According to Chrissy Howard, Manager of Reading Success by 4th Grade, “All of our kids have less physical access to books in schools and in-person libraries (though curbside pickup is happening). Kids need learning resources at home and RS4G is stepping up. I know my kids have already read the same books over and over. It is so important that kids have their own books and home libraries at all times, but especially now that we are all home so much.”

Earlier this summer, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading announced that Springfield was recognized as one of just 21 communities nationwide to be recognized with national Pacesetter Honors for supporting early school success in 2019, with exemplary work in Big Tent Collaboration and Messaging and Communications. Springfield was also named a Pacesetter finalist for School Readiness.

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Chrissy Howard

Manager

Reading Success by 4th Grade

About Chrissy

Chrissy Howard was named Manager of Reading Success by 4th Grade in 2019, and brings with her a deep understanding of the work of the initiative. Most recently at Springfield Public Schools, Howard served as an Instructional Leadership Specialist in Literacy. She has also previously worked as a teacher, instructional coach, literacy leader and principal in Springfield and Worcester. Howard earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Wheelock College; her Master’s in Education from Harvard University; and her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) from Simmons University, focused on urban elementary education. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree at UMass Amherst in the Language, Literacy and Culture program. Howard is active in the community as a member of the board of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts and the Harvard Club of Western Massachusetts. She was part of BusinessWest’s 40 Under 40 class of 2018, and is also a recipient of the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Howard resides in Springfield with her husband, Geoff, and their two young daughters.

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