Who We Are
Read Aloud Delaware is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of illiteracy in our state. We have been in existence for 42 years and remain Delaware's only state-wide organization focused on early childhood literacy. We promote reading aloud and early talk with children to encourage a love of books, a desire to become a reader, and positive brain development from birth through elementary school. Our organization's mission is to create a life-long impact through early childhood literacy. Our vision is for every child in Delaware to have the foundational literacy skills needed to succeed in school and life.
What We Do
Read Aloud Delaware send background-checked volunteers into childcare centers, homw daycares, elementary and preschools, as well as bafter-school programs to read one-on-one with their students. Volunteers read for about 1 1/2 hours once a week in a specific classroom at one of our partner sites.
We also offer free workshops for parents of children birth to three. It teaches parents the importance of exposing their children to adult words, conversations, and reading aloud to help their language skills grow in all sorts of positive ways.
Parents register for hour-long sessions over an 8–10-week period. Then, one day a week, between those sessions, their child wears an innovative device that captures the home language environment. Once uploaded, caregivers get reports calculating the number of adult words and conversations produced on each of these “Lena days.” Caregivers strive for and can see their progress from one week to the next by using the techniques discussed in class.
Everything needed to participate in the program is provided free of charge, along with a new, age-appropriate book every week, and incentives totaling $45.00 for their participation.
Agency Opportunities
Agency Events
