Meadow Lakes launches reading initiative

More than 370 students at Meadow Lakes Elementary School today celebrated RIF, Reading is Fundamental, which is the nation's oldest and largest literacy organization serving children and their parents.

Reading to Share is an interactive activity that motivates kids to read by sharing books and stories with others. The theme of the Meadow Lakes RIF event, Reading to Share, cleverly emerged with a Mystery Reader and Buddy Reading, partnering a younger and older student to read. Like all RIF activities, Reading to Share culminated in a festive "Book Distribution" where children sifted through hundreds of books, shared them with their friends and ultimately chose one book to keep at no cost to them or their families.

In addition to helping children understand that reading is fun and fundamental to success in life, Reading to Share highlights the literacy achievement of students and volunteers in the Meadow Lakes Elementary RIF Book Program. It also encourages children to become lifetime readers by building self-esteem and involving the most important people in their lives--parents, teachers and other kids -- in the learning process.

At Meadow Lakes Elementary School, RIF will bring 1,200 books to more than 370 children this year. The Meadow Lakes RIF Book Program has 10 local volunteers who organize successful reading motivation activities and book distributions. This year's Local RIF sponsor is Meadow Lakes Elementary PTA. If you're interested in becoming a Meadow Lakes Local RIF sponsor, please contact Kirk Thompson at 357-9840.

Praising the Meadow Lakes Elementary RIF program, RIF National President Bill Trueheart commented, "RIF salutes the dedicated volunteers, sponsors and children participating in Read to Share. Their efforts are helping build a nation of readers."

Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF) develops and delivers children's and family literacy programs that help prepare young children for reading and motivate school-age children to read regularly. Through a national grassroots network that is expected to exceed 370,000 volunteers by the end of 2001, RIF programs will provide new, free books and other essential literacy resources to more than 5 million children. By the end of 2001, RIF will have placed more than 200 million books in the hands, homes, and hearts of America's children.