#BeBookSmart Twitter Party

Sunday, July 8, 2012

#BeBookSmart Twitter Party

JOIN US FOR A TWITTER PARTY ABOUT CHILDREN'S LITERACY!

RIF (Reading Is Fundamental) has partnered with Macy’s to create Be Book Smart, a national partnership to raise awareness and support of children’s literacy. This effort will help RIF provide free books and literacy resources to children nationwide, while expanding RIF’s outreach to the children at greatest risk for developing reading difficulties. This campaign provides an opportunity for Macy’s customers to join the effort and have an impact on literacy in their community.

Through July 31, 2012, Macy’s customers can give $3 to provide a book for a child and receive a coupon for $10 off* a $50 in-store purchase at any Macy’s nationwide. Macy’s will give 100% of every $3 to RIF.

Since 2004, Macy’s has played an integral part of helping RIF carry out its mission, raising over $21 million to support children’s literacy. That means millions of free books and resources for children who need them the most.

#BeBookSmart Twitter Party on Wednesday, Jul 11 @ 6pm (EST). #bebooksmart

http://www.rif.org/us/get-involved/bebooksmart.htm

Send an email to Tell Congress to ACT now! {see below for sample}

Support Children's Literacy Funding in FY13! Tell Congress to support continued funding for the Department of Education's Innovative Approaches to Literacy grant competition!

In 2011, RIF lost $24.8 million in federal funding – representing 80 percent of our operating budget. During the 2012 budget cycle that same year, Congress designated $28 million toward a new national literacy grant competition. While details are still being set for the competition, RIF hopes to be able to compete for a portion of these funds to support our local RIF programs. As Congress is now at work drafting the 2013 budget, it’s critical that this investment in children’s literacy remains. Please write to your members of Congress today. Tell them to maintain support for the Department of Education’s Innovative Approaches to Literacy grant competition. Make sure your representatives in Washington know that you support funding for our nation’s most critical investment: our children’s success in schools – and the future.
Send the message below today. Your voice matters. Powered by CQ Roll Call ©2012

Thanks for making a pledge.
And thank you for declaring your love of reading to the world to help Book People Unite.
http://www.bookpeopleunite.org/pledge.html

If you're a Book Person like me, help put books in the hands of kids who need them the most. @rifweb http://www.bookpeopleunite.org #bookpeopleunite

Book Kids
Two dozen amazing fifth-graders decided to forgo their end-of-the-year party and donate the money to RIF instead. They also created a video that will get your feet tapping.

Enter for a chance to win a $500 Macy's Gift Card!

Prize Details - Five (5) Grand Prize winners will each receive a $500 Macy’s gift card redeemable at all Macy’s store locations and on macys.com. One (1) Grand Prize winner will be selected following each week of the Sweepstakes Period in a random drawing from all eligible entries received and not previously selected, on or about the following dates: June 28, 2012; July 5, 2012; July 12, 2012; July 19, 2012; and July 26, 2012. Prize Eligibility - Only persons who are at least 18 years of age can enter. Sweepstakes Starts - June 22, 2012 @ 12:01 am (EDT) Sweepstakes Ends - July 26, 2012 @ 11:59 pm (EDT)

via

@EnjoyHi5Autism
"Reading is Fundamental. Reading is the gateway to a lifetime of learning." {BLC a.k.a. KBJCosse'} EnjoyHi5Autism networks support @RIFWEB http://rif.org/ .
Take Action and Tell Congress to Support Literacy Funding (every Fiscal Year) http://www.rif.org/us/get-involved/advocate/action-center.htm .
['All children can Learn.' http://www.facebook.com/EnjoyableSchoolYear]

@Babymiracle2005

@blpcosse BLPCosse' +2

"Hi5! Pinned @RIFweb #BeBookSmart on 'RIF', 'Summertime Fun' , 'Reading & Literacy', 'Must read...' and other @EnjoyHi5Autism Pinterest Boards http://pinterest.com/EnjoyHi5Autism/pins/; Autism Families and http://www.facebook.com/EnjoyableSchoolYear"

Reading Is Fundamental PSA for RIF. @EnjoyHi5Autism networks support @RIFWEB http://rif.org/ . Take Action and Tell Congress to Support Literacy Funding (every Fiscal Year) http://www.rif.org/us/get-involved/advocate/action-center.htm .

Reading Is Fundamental

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is the nation's largest nonprofit children's literacy organization. Through RIF programs, we prepare and motivate children to read by ...

PSA - http://www.bookpeopleunite.org/

More Reading Resources
Reading Is Fundamental

First Sister an Interview with Maya Soetoro-Ng , author of Ladder to the Moon and sister to President Barack Obama - Comment: Hi5! Thank you First Sister Maya Soetoro-Ng for sharing. We have pinned 'Ladder to the Moon' in our Pinterest at 'EnjoyHi5Autism' Boards:'RIF'; 'Must read...; 'Summertime Fun'; 'Educating & Learning & Reading; 'Reading & Literacy'. Our family espouses "Reading Is Fundamental. Reading is the gateway to a lifetime of learning." All children can Learn.' (and learn to read)includes children with disabilities and special needs. http://www.facebook.com/EnjoyableSchoolYear

ReadingIsFundamental‏@RIFWEB

“88 Books That Shaped America” http://ow.ly/c27EF What books would you add? ‪#BookPeopleUnite‬ @LibraryCongress

Reading Rockets‏@ReadingRocketsTeaching kids to read, especially those who struggle. Research, classroom strategies, parent tips, books & authors, and much more, for educators and families

‏@EducationHat

Reading Adventure Pack: Flight | Reading Topics A-Z | Reading Rockets -- Ad: http://goo.gl/wTOhd - Story: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/51765

‏@patoney

Repeated Interactive Read-Alouds in Preschool and Kindergarten @Reading Rockets: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/16287/#.T_hhuzQop14.twitter

‏@mlevine_jgcc

Connected: Literacy for Generation Z Guest Blog | Blogs about Reading | Reading Rockets: http://www.readingrockets.org/blogs/digitallit/#.T_WzPLdU8RU.twitter via @readingrockets

‏@kindleebooks

If You're So Smart, How Come You Can't Spell Mississippi? (Reading Rockets Recommended,... http://amzn.to/LNxufd http://freebookshub.com View mediaHide media

50 App Giveaway - Independence Week Celebration

'Enjoying The Hi-5s of Autism - A Family Experience' at 'Enjoying The Hi-5's of Autism - A Family Experience' - 1 hour ago

Fifty family-friendly apps can make a huge contribution to your iDevice. Most participating developers are parents themselves – so come wave the flag this Independence Day – it’s a celebration! [Moms With Apps] Kid-Capsule July 2, 2012** ★ 50+ FAMILY FRIENDLY APPS ★ Fifty family-friendly apps can make a huge contribution to your iDevice. Most participating developers are parents themselves – so come wave the flag this Independence Day – IT'S A CELEBRATION! ★ Enter at the Kid-Capsule blog: http://bit.ly/50AppGiveaway ★ Open from July 2nd, 2012 at 12:01 AM EDT to July 13th, 2012 a... more »

Reading Is Fundamental Action Alert: Send an email to Tell Congress to ACT now! {RIF sample email/letter}

Support Children's Literacy Funding in FY13!

Subject:
Support Children's Literacy Funding in FY13!

Required text:

(This text will be included in your message)

I respectfully urge you to support level funding of $28.6 million in FY2013 for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy competitive grant program. First funded in FY2012 and administered by the U.S. Department of Education, this national literacy grant competition is designed to support access to books, early literacy services, and effective school library programs for low-income children.

This investment in children's literacy comes at a critical time when only 1 in 300 children in poor neighborhoods owns a book, and only 1 in 5 low-income children is reading at the proficient level by the end of third grade. Access to print is essential and literacy is at the core of academic achievement for all children and one of the single best predictors for high school graduation, overall long-term success and prosperity.

The recent elimination of federal support for national literacy organizations like Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is of grave concern, as these organizations work to distribute books and literacy resources to those children at highest risk of academic failure. Last year, RIF provided more than 15 million books to 4 million low-income children with the help of a volunteer corps of more than 400,000, a strong national infrastructure and the public-private partnership that has made RIF so effective during the course of its 45 years of operation. Children who enter kindergarten behind their peers are frequently unable to close the learning gap, and are three to four times more likely to drop out of school long-term. Refunding the national literacy grant competition in FY2013 becomes more vital than ever in working to address our nation's literacy crisis.

As the FY2013 budget process advances, I hope you will support this funding request for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy grant program.