One Book At A Time
MGM READS seeks to provide underserved students and families in the Montgomery community with culturally relevant books and literacy support materials. Now more than ever, our students need these resources! By distributing such crucial resources to students and families, we aim to support both schools and families to extend learning support during the summer.
Over the last year, MGM READS saw the successful expansion of the program to serve 11 sites around the city and nearly 1,200 Montgomery students.
If you would like to support MGM READS, consider making a donation today!
TOGETHER WE CAN INCREASE STUDENT READING PERFORMANCE AND INCREASE COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Our Impact.
Over 13,000 books culturally relevant books were distributed to children, grades Kindergarten - 5th grade at 11 sites: Shiloh, Sheridan Heights, Goodtimes, Cleveland Ave, East Y, Kershaw, Davis, and Nixon Elementary.
Thank you to the following #MGMReads30 Partners: City of Montgomery, Montgomery County Commission, Kiwanis Club of Montgomery Foundation, Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, Sunrise Rotary, Wells Fargo Bank, Club, Working Women’s Home Association, Montgomery City-County Library, Montgomery Public Schools, City Councilman Clay McInnis, Metropolitan Methodist Church, PCS Marketing, LLC, and Kelly Realty.
Watch the video below to find out more about our impact last summer!
We’re All In!
Montgomery Fact!
Did you know that Montgomery is a book desert? A book desert is defined as a place where books and other printed materials are hard to access and obtain. MGM READS seeks to make Montgomery a place rich with books— not a desert!
Check out our YouTube Channel and Facebook Page!
The Importance of Books!
Access to books is critical for school readiness and school success.
Children in low-income families have access to fewer reading materials than children from middle and upper-income families.
Access to books has the greatest potential impact on children from low-income families.
Today's Spotlight
MGM READS 30 looks forward to shining a light on students, families and community members as they join together to READ 30.
Reading Activities
Did you know? Students who read 30 minutes a day will experience nine times the vocabulary growth compared to a student who reads less than 20 minutes. That is a difference of almost 12.2 million words throughout their K-12 career!
Word Play
Building vocabulary helps us improve our reading, writing and communication skills. MGM READS has created vocabulary activities for chosen words from each book we read, so click an image below to start your word play!
Just like Jerome in The Word Collector, you too can be a word collector!
Resources
Resources for students, families and teachers from around the community. Check out the many activities and services available
Book Distributions
Creating home libraries leads to successful readers. Look for distribution sites and schedules.
Video Library
All read aloud book videos are archived here.
In 1990 Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop wrote an essay about a powerful metaphor, how books and stories can act as mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors to which children see the world.
In a 2009 TED Talk, Nigerian writer Chimanmanda Ngozi Adichie warned of reducing complex human beings to a single narrative, an incomplete story, preventing indiciduals from authentically interacting with each other, actively seeking to understand each other.
In 2020 the MGM READS 30 campaign will read aloud 24 story books and 4 chapter books with diverse, affirming stories and celebrate the beautiful Montgomery community through reading and interacting with our readers.
While we work hard to support readers and reading comprehension, we also look forward to seeing children find a proud reflective mirror; a welcoming window; and a sliding glass door into another's world this summer.
Jackie Bretl - Academic Program Director, Montgomery Education Foundation
MGM Reads 30 Partners
