READ TO ME

from Region 7 ESC SEVEN Magazine - Winter 2022

VAN ISD STEAM BUS

Front: Emily Pruitt, Carley Cook, Carolyn Pruitt, Ember Gates, and Katie Marshall; Back: Eva Orduna, Tyler Cook, Tami Carnes, Julie Pierson, Darrell Pruitt, Colleen Rushing, Mindy Baker, Lou Labay, Colton Pruitt, Freida Welch

Read to Me Literacy Program

by Summer Stone, Region 7 ESC Communications Coordinator

“The mere exposure to books can predict a child’s success in school – and growing up surrounded by books sets the tone for education and escape, encouraging them to research and to use their imagination,” Kristi L. Nelson, Health writer for the Knoxville News Sentinel.

For Hallsville East Kindergarten teacher Carolyn Pruitt, this statement has proven to be true throughout her 35 years in education. Mrs. Pruitt has witnessed first-hand the impact made on young students who have been exposed to books from birth and the struggles of those who have not been surrounded by books.

“As a kindergarten teacher, I can see pretty quickly which children have been read to and which children have not, and it makes a difference when it comes to their abilities to speak and comprehend information,” says Pruitt.

One study estimated a 7,500-word difference between first graders who got a lot of exposure to language as babies and toddlers compared to those who did not. These statistics, in addition to her observations in her classroom, are what inspired Pruitt to create the Read to Me Literacy Program for Kids.

The Read to Me Literacy Program began in the spring of 2021, when Pruitt and a few coworkers, friends, and family members started assembling small bags with books and resources to deliver to the Christus Good Shepherd Labor and Delivery floor for new mothers in the area.

“I’m a Registered Nurse at Christus Good Shepherd in Longview, and I am usually the person dropping off the book bags after we fill them,” says Pruitt’s daughter Carley Cook. “Each time I drop off a set of book bags, the nurses of the mother-baby floor are so appreciative and tell me that the moms love them so much.”

A team of around 15 people, including Pruitt’s daughter, son-in-law, five-year-old granddaughter, son, daughter-in-law, and husband, meet in Pruitt’s classroom to assemble bags for both English and Spanish-speaking families. Local sponsors donate books, and each bag usually has two or three small books, perfect for reading to a newborn.

As of December 2021, the Read to Me Literacy Program has delivered around 1,000 books to new mothers that have their babies at Christus Good Shepherd. Pruitt hopes to expand the program to Longview Regional, as well.

“My hope is to gift every baby born in both Longview hospitals with a backpack filled with information about the importance of reading to their children, as well as books and other resources to get them started on the right path,” says Pruitt.

“I went with the nurses once to deliver a bag to a new family. We handed the new mother her bag, and she immediately started reading ‘On the Night You Were Born’ to her one-day-old daughter,” says Cook. “She began tearing up as she read the story, telling her daughter how much she loved her. When she was done reading, we all had tears in our eyes. The new mother looked at me and told me thank you for this program and for being such a blessing to their new family.”

If you would like to donate books, volunteer your time, or sponsor materials for this program, please visit https://campsite.bio/readtome to contact Carolyn or one of her team members. ■