A New Tool Helps Families Build Reading Skills for Young Learners

Whether a child is a few months old or on the way to the fifth grade, a new online tool can help families build a foundation for literacy.

That tool is Let's Read San Mateo County, a website designed tosupport young readers and their families.

Developed in partnership with the Oakland Literacy Coalition, the website is available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Tagalog and shares strategies to raise a confident reader, milestones for ages and grades and links to books and videos.

Let's Read San Mateo County is the latest project from The Big Lift, a bold collective impact effort that helps young learners achieve reading proficiency by the end of third grade.

"A child's ability to read has a direct impact on their life outcomes," said San Mateo County Supervisor Noelia Corzo, who serves on The Big Lift's leadership team. "Let's Read San Mateo County is about giving every child the opportunity to have the best possible future."

The website is filled with research-based advice and tips from experts and local organizations. In simple drop-down menus, families can find information on developmental milestones as well as links to fun games and activities that help build reading skills, including:

• Information on How Reading Works: The fundamentals of reading and how children learn this essential skill.
• Reading Strategies for All Ages: Tips on reading with children of different ages, from toddlers to fifth graders.
• Support Resources: Help and support if a child is struggling with reading, including links to local services and organizations.

"Let's Read San Mateo County complements early education by reinforcing literacy skills beyond the classroom, fostering a love for reading, and creating a supportive community that values and promotes educational success," said Katharine Sullivan, The Big Lift's executive director.

"Family engagement is critical in supporting academic success, and the website provides families with the tools and encouragement they need to support their children's literacy development at home and to partner with teachers on the path to reading proficiency."

The Big Lift is an initiative of the County of San Mateo, San Mateo County Libraries and the San Mateo County Office of Education with support from numerous public and private organizations and businesses. It's born from a need: despite San Mateo County being one of the most affluent counties in the nation, 42 percent of the county's third graders cannot read proficiently.

The Big Lift is funded in part by the voter-approved Measure K half-cent sales tax, which provides local funds for local needs.

Additional Big Lift initiatives include support for high-quality preschool to boost kindergarten readiness; resources to support the implementation of teaching practices that align with the science of reading in preschool through third grade classrooms; an "Inspiring Summers" program to prevent summer learning loss; attendance efforts to reduce persistent chronic absences; and family engagement to promote home literacy practices.

"Literacy and success in school begin in the early years, and as The Big Lift has shown repeatedly, the right intervention and supports can make all the difference," said San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools Nancy Magee. "Let's Read San Mateo County is another wonderful tool The Big Lift is giving parents to help them in their role as their child's first and most important teacher.

Katharine Sullivan
San Mateo County Human Services Agency
650-802- 7661
[email protected]