Ready Readers

Ready Readers is an outcome-based early literacy program in the St. Louis metro region that prepares young children living in low-income communities to develop a love of reading while learning essential early literacy, STEAM and social emotional skills required to become strong readers and lifelong learners. By providing equitable access to children living in low-income communities, Ready Readers seeks to close the equity gap in education, develop children's early literacy skills, jump-start their success in school, and establish educational advantages that will reap a lifetime of benefits.

For $119 per child per year, the Ready Readers Storytime program provides a weekly read-aloud session, where volunteers read aloud 2-3 books and teach an emergent literacy activity to the same class of children, at the same time every week, allowing the children to associate a special person with the fun of reading. Each child receives 6-7 new books featuring diverse characters and subjects to engage young children. Books contain a "Notes for Home" section to promote reading together at home. The classroom teachers also receive the same books with extension activities based on Missouri Early Learning Goals. Ready Readers also offers free, professional development workshops on teaching early learning concepts using children's literature and connects classrooms with free, literacy-based field trips.