BRIDGEPORT, CT – New Beginnings Family Academy (NBFA) and Fairfield College Preparatory School today launched “Read For Others,” a new partnership pairing high school students with pre-schoolers to engage in a research-based shared reading experience to improve the toddlers' language development.
“We are excited to begin this new program with Fairfield College Preparatory School to enhance the literacy skills of our youngest learners,” said NBFA Director & CEO Ronelle P. Swagerty. “Through regular interactions with the Prep boys, NBFA’s Pre-K students will improve their oral language, increase their vocabulary and develop key relationship skills necessary for child development.”
Every Monday afternoon, each buddy reader from Fairfield Prep will be partnered with one NBFA Pre-K student with whom they will partner for the academic year. The guest readers, from the school’s African American Cultural Club, were trained on how to read with and engage the students. The books are handpicked by NBFA’s reading staff.
“At Fairfield College Preparatory School, we make it a priority to have our students give back to the community,” said Fairfield Prep’s Director of Diversity & Community Engagement Ruben Goodwin. “We are pleased to partner with New Beginnings Family Academy for this impactful program to promote literacy and relationship building with their students.”
Dialogic reading is an evidence-based literacy strategy proven to boost at-risk children’s oral vocabulary skills. Studies have shown that children from low-income backgrounds who participate in dialogic reading interventions experience significant improvements in vocabulary and language skills compared to children who do not.
“The process of dialogic reading encourages students to talk on the contents of the book as it is read,” said NBFA Family and Community Engagement Coordinator Heidi Barker. “After the book is complete, the buddy reader allows the student to become storyteller by engaging them in a series of discussion prompts together.”
The guest readers will also be provided with their own NBFA comfort bear to help them connect with the Pre-K students. The proprietary Comfort Bears curriculum, which was developed in collaboration with Bank Street College’s Office of Emotionally Responsive Practice, allows students to connect with their feelings which help improve social, emotional and academic skills.
To view a gallery of photos from the “Read For Others” partnership, please click here.
About New Beginnings Family Academy:
NBFA is a Pre-K through Grade 6 tuition-free public charter school. Through NBFA’s student-centered approach steeped in child development, and emotionally responsive practice, the needs of each child are addressed holistically through skillful relationship building and culturally relevant curriculum. Its mission is to provide students a meaningful, high-quality education through experience-based learning that helps develop essential social, emotional and critical-thinking skills. This gives all children a foundation to achieve their full potential at every stage of life. To learn more, please visit www.nbfacademy.org
About Fairfield College Preparatory School:
Fairfield College Preparatory School is a Jesuit, Catholic School of excellence forming young men of intellectual competence, who possess the conscience to make wise decisions, a compassion for others, and a commitment to justice in our global society. To learn more, please visit www.fairfieldprep.org