United Way promotes reading through event with school districts

September 19, 2018 | Source: Daily Toreador

By: Matthew Setzekorn

United Way will host the first United We Read, an event to encourage parents to read to and with their children on Thursday, Sept. 20.

More than 3,500 students are projected to participate as well as volunteers from the City of Lubbock, Lubbock County and local businesses.

The event will take place across 190 Lubbock ISD, Frenship ISD, Lubbock-Cooper, Shallowater ISD and New Deal ISD second grade classrooms.

Students will be reading "The Little Red Fort" by Brenda Maier at the same time across all districts and participating in activities based on the book, according to a United Way news release. Every student will go home with a copy of the book and a craft that goes along with the story.

“From ages zero to eight, children are learning to read. At age nine, children begin reading to learn. That’s why it’s important that all of our children are grade level readers by 3rd grade,” Ashley Ammons, community impact director, said. “Our hope is that United We Read encourages parents to read to and with their children.”