Nov. 7, 2014
For Immediate Release
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| Students from the Campbellsville visited Campbellsville University’s School of Education for Jumpstart: Read for the Record, a national reading initiative for early childhood readers. (Campbellsville University Photo by Kyle Perkins) |
By Hanna Hall, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – A national reading initiative for early childhood readers was recently held at Campbellsville University at the School of Education. Jumpstart: Read for the Record mobilizes millions of children and adults to celebrate literacy by participating in the largest shared reading experience.
Ellen Hamilton-Ford, assistant professor of early childhood education, has run the reading program for the last two years since CU’s involvement in 2008, when Dr. Colleen Walker, former professor of education, started the program.
Jumpstart is a national early education organization that recruits and trains college students and community members to serve preschool children in low-income neighborhoods. The curriculum used helps children develop the language and literacy skills they need to be ready for kindergarten.
Jumpstart believes that from an early age, children should be exposed to activities that encourage a love of language and learning and a sense of wonder about the world. Many times children from low-income communities do not get to experience these events. Research shows once a child from a low-income background starts behind, they are very likely to stay behind.
CU served approximately 25 students this year at the School of Education.
“This program positively promotes that reading is fun, while also communicating that literacy is important and should begin early in life. The families and children who participate get a free copy of the book, which is chosen each year by the Jumpstart Read for the Record organization.” Dottie Davis, assistant professor of education, said.
Since 1993, Jumpstart has trained 36,000 college students and community volunteers to transform the lives of 76,000 preschool children nationwide. These Corps. members help children provide a foundation for future success.
Jumpstart sessions took place two days per week, for two hours each time. Each session revolved around a core storybook and one book served as the focus for two sessions. Session plans were organized in six unit themes — Family, Friends, Wind and Water, The World of Color, Shadows and Reflections, and Things That Grow.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master’s degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsvillee.edu.