Make Reading Fun!

Reading with a child is only as fun as you make it. Be excited to read aloud with your student and they will be excited to read. Here are a few steps to make reading more exciting for everyone!

• As you read, follow the text with your finger.
• Read with expression.
• Children need to hear changes in your voice to indicate when you are reading dialogue
• Vary your pace.
• Slow down to build up suspense.
• Speed up during exciting scenes.
• Create voices for different characters.
• If you are reading about that silly character in the story don’t be afraid to use your silly voice.
• Be enthusiastic.
• If you are bored, your student will be bored
• Discuss the book.
• Ask questions!
• Enjoy the illustrations.
• Take the time to really understand the pictures.
• Change books.
• If the student isn’t enjoying the story pick a new one.  
• Change the story.
• Change a part of a familiar story and see if they notice. Also, change a new story by swapping in a word that is wrong and let them correct you. 

Showing kids that reading can be fun will inspire them to read on their own in the future!

April Showers bring May Flowers!

Hello, 

April was an exciting month for Everybody Wins! Iowa. Here are a few updates:

Everybody Wins! Iowa 

1. has almost 500 mentors signed up this school year. We have already surpassed last school year's (2012-2013) numbers and hope to reach our goal of 500 by the end of May. 

2. was awarded the Experiential Learning Community Partner Award from Drake University on April 15. This is a great honor for Everybody Wins! Iowa. Thank you, Drake University, for your tremendous support of our program. 

3. had two mentors recognized at the LIVE UNITED awards on April 22nd through United Way of Central Iowa: Hal Rusk, mentor with Children and Family Urban Movement and Kate Allen Jones mentor with Edmunds. This was a great honor for EWI and the nominees. The LIVE UNITED Recognition is United Way of Central Iowa’s tribute to philanthropic efforts and measurable community impact. This event honors the exceptional commitment of organizations and individuals.  

 4. received funding  from Warren County Philanthropic Partnership on April 24th to help grow our Indianola & Norwalk elementary schools. Norwalk and Indianola have only been a part of the EWI family for two years and with this grant, we will to reach out to attract more mentors to better serve Indianola and Norwalk and provide more books to their respective bookcarts.