HARTFORD, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The South Dakota Humanities Council is touring around the state, distributing more than 15,000 books to third graders. It’s not only a welcome back to school gift, but what they say is a key tool to helping students build literacy skills.
The Council’s Young Readers Program distributes books to third graders every year. This year’s book is “Wings of an Eagle: The Gold Medal Dreams of Billy Mills.”
SDHC Board Chair Stephen Williamson said that the third grade is when kids really start reading to learn, instead of learning how to read.
“Our goal is to deliver a book to every third grader in the state of South Dakota, whether they’re urban or rural. Whether they’re on the reservation, at a private school, or a public school, or they’re homeschooled,” Williamson said.
The Council cites data from The Annie E. Casey Foundation, showing that 68 percent of South Dakota fourth graders are reading below a proficient level.
By having a book to help start their interest in reading, they hope that kids will want to learn more and practice their reading skills. Sometimes, just having a book helps start that process.
“I think sometimes we make the assumption that there are books in every home. We make the assumption that every child has books to read. That is not the truth. And so, this may be the first book that they’ve ever owned by themselves. It’s valuable that we do that for every child in the state of South Dakota, no matter where they are economically, whoever they are,” Williamson said.
Hartford Elementary Principal Ashley Bahrenfuss said there’s nothing better than getting kids excited to read a book. To have it about a South Dakota legend only makes them more excited to dive in.
“It kind of touches base on sports and all of the things that are really important to our third graders right now. So having the opportunity to bring the culture and history with South Dakota, but also in something that is interesting and rich in vocabulary. Sometimes, we don’t get the opportunity to inspire what kids read outside of school. So, it feels good to provide the opportunity for them to read at home,” Bahrenfuss said.
Williamson said while this program focuses on third graders, parents or guardians should be reading to kids whenever they can. He said the earlier that’s made an important part of a kid’s life, the better they’ll be able to read and understand.
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