{"id":35609,"date":"2022-04-27T15:42:45","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T22:42:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humanities.org\/?p=35609"},"modified":"2022-08-22T10:42:38","modified_gmt":"2022-08-22T17:42:38","slug":"prime-time-family-reading","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.humanities.org\/story\/prime-time-family-reading\/","title":{"rendered":"Prime Time Family Reading Expands in Response to Pandemic Learning Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

In response to pandemic learning loss, Humanities Washington is excited to announce that Prime Time Family Reading\u2014an innovative reading and discussion program\u2014is expanding! For more libraries and other eligible organizations than ever, this means financial support to hold Prime Time Family Reading series in their communities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What some are calling \u201cpandemic learning loss\u201d threatens to follow many children, particularly those from low-income households, for the rest of their lives unless there is immediate intervention.<\/span> Only 52% of students in the state now meet reading standards.<\/span><\/a> Nationally, the trends have been described by educators as \u201calarming.\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re in trouble,\u201d one researcher <\/span>told the New York Times<\/em><\/span><\/a>. Further, recent research shows that all students, on average, have fallen four to five months behind in their learning\u202fdue to\u202fthe pandemic, and the impact\u202fon\u202fBlack, Indigenous, and other students of color is even more significant.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our expansion of the Prime Time Family Reading program is in direct response to this crisis. <\/span>In a typical year, Humanities Washington held around 25 Prime Time series around the state. This expansion will quadruple that, with the goal of holding 100 series in the fall of 2022 and spring of 2023.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reading is important to every child\u2019s development and future success. To build a foundation for reading that will last a lifetime, the Prime Time Family Reading program builds on a typical library story time by going deeper into thinking about and discussing big ideas in children\u2019s literature, inspiring families to read, connect, discuss, and learn together.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prime Time serves families with elementary-school-aged children who may be struggling with reading. During six weekly sessions held in the evenings at public libraries, schools, museums, or online, between 15 and 25 families read stories and then discuss meaningful questions based on the books\u2019 themes. The books are read by a skilled storyteller, and the discussion is led by a scholar who brings out the book\u2019s deeper ideas, including topics like <\/span>fairness, greed, courage, and compassion<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prime Time models reading and discussion techniques that families can easily replicate at home, transforming homes into learning environments and giving children strong foundations for becoming lifelong learners.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prime Time is a proven success. In surveys of participating Prime Time Family Reading families, an incredible: 95% increased the amount of time they read together, 93% experienced a positive change in their attitudes toward reading, and 97% are now more likely to use library services. A ten-year study conducted by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities found that students who participate in Prime Time during their early elementary years performed at a higher level on grade-level tested content areas than non-participating peers. The same study also found that Prime Time students\u2019 improved performance continued through high school.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Hosts Get:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n