Reading Fundamental
Reading is Fundamental (RIF) was started in 1966 in Washington, D.C. in an effort to motivate children to read by providing free books to underserved children from birth through age 8. ReadBoston coordinates RIF’s Books For Ownership program for the children in most of the Boston Public Schools.
The Books For Ownership program provides students in participating schools with the opportunity to choose three free books per school year. Students are allowed to take these books home to keep as their own. In an effort to motivate children to read and to generate community support for literacy, the book give-aways are connected with festive literacy activities that aim to develop community involvement.
Program Goals
- Provide new, free books and literacy resources to children and their families.
- Motivate children to read.
- Generate community support for literacy.
Program Accomplishments
During the 2007-2008 school year, ReadBoston and RIF will provide Boston schoolchildren with over 45,000 free, new books. These books will be distributed at events that get students excited about reading. These events include:
- Community Read Alouds
- Guest Storytellers
- Visits from local college athletes
- Author Visits
Schools are sent application materials in early September to be completed and returned to ReadBoston by early October. Motivational events are held in December, February and April.
Document Links:
- RIF Distribution Ideas
- RIF Roles & Responsibilities
- December Distribution Description
- February Distribution Description
- April Distribution Description
- Distribution Report Form
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