An Early Literacy Initiative Brings Reading To North Philly Playgrounds (Next City)
If you come across one of 14 Northern Philadelphia playgrounds selected for the new Philly ABCs campaign, you’ll find it awash in colorful banners depicting beautiful illustrations of the alphabet. These vibrant displays are a new collaboration between the Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia’s Parks and Recreation, and local early literacy movement Read By 4th.
Its aim: To make early reading materials more accessible to young children, providing a low-cost way to mitigate summer learning loss.
“We champion reading anywhere, anytime,” says Kelly Richards, President and Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia. “The Philly ABCs campaign presents an excellent opportunity to extend our love of literacy beyond the library walls and into our community.”
This article was originally published on nextcity.org on July 31, 2023. Written by: Punnya Kalapurakkel.
Strong readers start with strong teachers. Here’s what it will take to build a stronger teacher pipeline in Philadelphia.
With support from the Neighborhood Literacy Fund, Dr. Sheena Howard’s comic-making workshops gave kids a chance to read, write and tell their own stories.
Some reading skills have a finish line. Others keep growing. Dr. Munro Richardson explains why they both matter.
Martina Barbour knows literacy doesn't just live between two book covers. It lives in the soil, shared songs, and the questions kids ask on the walk home.
Stop asking why dads aren’t showing up. Start asking what we can change to make sure they feel welcomed.
What does effective reading tutoring look like in Philadelphia? Researcher Kendall LaParo explores the gap between evidence-based practice and the real-world challenges of helping students learn to read.
Toya Algarin has a simple, radical idea: the best reading teachers may already be at home. And they might be grandmothers.
When a parent can't read, a child notices. And that child is more likely to struggle too.
This graphic makes the science of reading clear and helps families, schools, and communities speak the same language.
Philadelphia once had nearly 200 school librarians, now it has two. This is how the city lost them and how we can bring them back.
In a night of celebration and action, Read by 4th partners came together to fight for every child’s right to read.
From struggling reader to community leader, Jazmine is making sure more children have the support they need to thrive.
We can’t talk about the early literacy crisis without being real about something else: the adult literacy crisis.
Self-care isn't just wellness, it’s the foundation of sustainable healthy advocacy. Caring for ourselves helps us better care for others.
Want to rally for Philly’s young readers? Download our free posters and help push for policies that fuel early literacy success.
Moffet School is rewriting the script on reading with structured literacy, family engagement, and a whole-child approach.
Reading Captains, you’ve got the trust, the heart, and the know-how. Here are a few simple, powerful ways to spread a love of literacy.
Literacy is a right, but it hasn’t always been protected. Check out this Lunch & Learn exploring the history of Black literacy in America and the lessons we can carry into our present and future.
Use these reflection questions as a strategic tool to help bring our shared values off to life.
The literacy world is packed with big, fancy words—but we’re not about that. Here’s a no-fluff guide to the key terms that matter to Philly’s early literacy movement.
Chewing on books? Reading backward? Obsessed with one story? These quirky reading habits might seem strange, but they’re actually signs your child is learning.
We partnered with Fors Marsh to evaluate how our community literacy grant model, influenced by participatory and trust-based philanthropy, is working.