READ Association of Saginaw County

We're working on parent workshop ideas for the fall! Please consider taking this brief survey, so we can structure programs that meet your needs!

Can you spare a few moments to take my survey? Please take the survey titled "READ Association Parent Workshop Planning Survey". Your feedback is important!

Here's a fun opportunity for our St. Charles area friends!

Get out, enjoy the beautiful weather, Coal Miner's Park and a new story walk!

Our own Family Literacy Center Coordinator will be leading Storytime at the Hoyt Library tomorrow! Be sure to stop by and enjoy a story, snack, and hands-on activity!

Have "oceans" of fun with Linda from the READ Association as she shares books and a craft about the ocean! Open to all children, but geared toward preschoolers. See you at Hoyt at 2:00 on Saturday!

Did you know the READ Mentor Program pairs trained volunteers with elementary students in need of reading assistance at over 25 sites throughout Saginaw County? Many of these schools only have a handful of volunteers, though. If you're interested in making a difference by sharing just 1 hour of your week, email us [email protected] or call (989) 755-8402.

Today is National Relaxation Day and we think reading is the perfect way to unwind. Here's what the READ staff is currently reading!

Samantha is reading Community in Conflict: A Working-Class History of the 1913-1914 Michigan Copper Country Strike and Italian Hall Tragedy and enjoying learning more about organized labor and the Keweenaw Peninsula

Sarah is reading Jack Spratt Investigates: The Big Over Easy. This mystery takes place in the world of nursery rhymes and is something new and rather fun for her!

Linda is reading Three Cups of Tea, which is about a mountain climber who, after a climb in Pakistan, decides to dedicate his life to building schools for those living in poverty in the mountains, particularly young girls.

What are you reading right now?

Our friends at LLEAD Saginaw Chapter are hosting an awesome bilingual book giveaway. Check it away!

Readers to LLEAD'ers 2024 is now open!
R2L is a bilingual English-to-Spanish book giveaway for Saginaw County students from grades Pre-K to 8th grade.
>Register your students in the link ONLY
>Follow this page and post to get updates.
>Limited time to register
https://forms.gle/CTGXSw9jZ4suM8AA7

The READ staff has been out and about lately! Last week we participated in National Night Out with the Saginaw Township Police and the Saginaw County Foster Family Back to School Bash and tomorrow we'll be at Haithco Park for their Family Fun Night! We always have lots of books to share with the kids who stop by!

We have another level completion to celebrate! Skyler has been working hard with her tutor, Kathy, and just completed Level 7 in our Barton Tutoring Program. Congratulations Skyler!

As we approach a new school year, READ is looking to boost its volunteer numbers. Last year, our mentors met with 392 students across Saginaw County; the only limit to our impact is the number of volunteers we have. Our programs run throughout the County, during the school day (perfect for those interested in committing one lunch-hour per week), after school, and even into the evenings! Reach out if you want to learn more about getting involved!

Have you been watching the Olympics? The U.S. Women's Gymnastics team won the gold medal!

Here at the READ office, we added some new books to our Mentor Library. This Simone Biles biography will be available for volunteer mentors to check out and read with their students this school year!

Don't forget to stop by our table at National Night Out tonight! We'll be doing what we do best - giving away books!

We want to thank our program partners who helped make this summer's Raising Readers Academy sessions successful. The The Castle Museum of Saginaw County History hosted one of our sessions and the Public Libraries of Saginaw attended to share the wonderful resources the library has to offer!

READ will be there giving away books! We hope to see you!

This summer, we held two sessions of Raising Readers Academy! Our families were all smiles!

At D.E.A.R. at the Zoo, children attending could enter a raffle for a backpack full of books, and we loved seeing these smiling faces at the office when they came to pick them up! We hope these books bring them some joy and reading practice over the summer!

Did you know that tutoring at the Family Literacy Center continues throughout the summer? Schedules change a bit (and vacations happen) but we're grateful for the dedication of volunteer tutors to continue meeting with their students, as well as for the commitment from families to support their children's growth!

Today we're celebrating four students who have completed levels this season! Avery worked with Linda to pass Level 5; Juli and JaGregory passed Level 2, and his family showed up to support him; Tyler helped Amarion pass Level 2; and Raymond passed Level 7 with the guidance of his tutor, Margaret. Let's give a round of applause to these hard-working students and their dedicated volunteers.

We're hiring an Office Manager! If you or someone you know has a passion for the community and experience in an office environment, follow the link to check out the full job description, requirements, and application instructions.

https://www.readsaginaw.org/Join-Our-Team/

It's the first day of summer! Are you looking for ways to keep your kiddos engaged and reading during the summer months? Enroll in Raising Readers Academy!

A new session begins next Tuesday at our Carolyn R. Otto Family Literacy Center. Children will receive instruction that will help them develop their literacy skills and their adults will learn how to support them through their education. The first 10 families to register, and attend the first session, will receive a gift basket full of goodies!

Call the office at (989) 755-8402 or email [email protected] to register!

Support our friends at the The Castle Museum of Saginaw County History and check out this event!

Don't forget that tomorrow night, Thursday, 6/20, at 5:30 p.m. is our next with none other than Archaeologist Jeff Sommer. Jeff will be talking all about his current site and findings--a Tittabawassee Boom Company Boarding House site. Join us to hear all about it!

We’re having a blast at the The Castle Museum of Saginaw County History!

We still have room for your family at the Raising Readers Academy session at our Family Literacy Center! Sessions begin on June 25th and run from 4:30 - 6:00, with dinner provided. Call the office or use the QR code on the flyer to register.

This program is great for families with elementary-aged children looking to learn ways to encourage reading at home. Every week children get to pick out a new book to take home! Come join the fun with the READ Association!

We'll be there! Will you?

Next Saturday is our start to summer programming! To kick it off, we've got a great morning of activities planned for Saturday, June 15 at our . Join us between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for our Touch-A-Truck, STEM Activities, Book Giveaway from our friends at READ, and much more! FREE! Located in the Castle Museum/Hoyt Library block.

D.E.A.R. at the Zoo is coming up and with partners and sponsors like the Saginaw Children's Zoo, Harvey Randall Wickes Foundation, Frankenmuth Credit Union, 1st State Bank, Freeland Foot & Ankle Clinic, and First Presbyterian Church of Saginaw we're sure it's going to be a hit!

Join us on June 19th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm!

Schools out! Are you looking for things to do with your children this summer? Join us at the Castle Museum for our 5 week Raising Readers Academy program starting next Thursday at noon! We only have a few more spots left in this session of our free family literacy program, sign up by scanning the QR code on the flyer or contact Sarah at [email protected] with any questions you may have.

If you’re looking for evening programs, we have more spots available at our Family Literacy Center session too, beginning Tuesday June 25th at 4:30pm. Call (989) 755-8402 for more information on that session!

Kick off the summer at the Castle Museum! We’ll be there giving away books.

Summer FUN is here! To kickoff our summer programming we've got a great morning of activities planned for Saturday, June 15 at our . Join us between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for our Touch-A-Truck, STEM Activities, Book Giveaway from our friends at READ, and much more! FREE! Located in the Castle Museum/Hoyt Library block.

We had a wonderful time honoring our volunteers at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner last night at Trillium Banquet Center! It's great to gather with those who help READ in its mission and celebrate another year of wonderful work!

This event was made possible thanks to support from Tri-Star Trust, Spence Brothers, Boehler's Greenhouse, and Engel Construction!

Our Storytime Program continues during the summer. Be sure to bring your children to the Carolyn R. Otto Family Literacy Center for engaging activities all season!

Congratulations to Laci, who passed Level 2 in our Barton Tutoring Program! Laci's tutor, Kinesha, snapped this photo of her very proud student!

Students in our tutoring program meet with their volunteer tutors twice per week to work on reading and spelling skills. If you have time to share with a student, please reach out!

Congratulations, Saginaw Spirit, on winning the Memorial Cup!