Lake County

Literacy Task Force

8.30.12

History of Literacy Task Force

•Established in 2011

•Represents educators, business and community leaders

•Focus on supporting county-wide literacy activities and

initiatives

•Meets monthly

•Applied and received “The Big Read” grant, June 2011

Litearcy Task Force VisionThe Lake County Literacy Task Force has a vision that everyone in the county — young, adults and elders, not only be able to read, but desire to read. We view literacy as a fundamental foundation of freedom, democracy, personal satisfaction, and a contribution to one’s society and personal life. Everyone who has a desire to read should have, in Lake County, an avenue to become literate and celebrate literacy.

Initiative #1

The Big Read

•Matching grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

(NEA)

•Focused on the works of Edgar Allan Poe

•Activities Included:

• Film Festival

• Book Clubs

Initiative #2

Lake County Reads

Modeled after Kelseyville Sunrise Rotary Club Reading Program, now in its sixthyear.

Initiative #2

Lake County Reads

•Club purchases age/grade appropriate children’s books for each selected school• Grades K-5• Cost: $500 per year• Books are presented for signature of program speakers,

then given to school after the book is read to students in a classroom.

Initiative #2

Lake County Reads

•Club members each sign up to read to a class at least once during the year.• School schedules a “guest reader” once a week for

approximately 25 weeks.• Reading takes about 15 minutes

Initiative #2

Lake County Reads

•Service club student member signs up to read to a class at least once a year. Club advisor coordinates sign ups.• Student reader accompanies the club member to the

school to read.• The club member and student member can read in

separate classes or together.

Initiative #2

Lake County Reads

•Benefits of the program• The school gets books.• High school students model reading to elementary

students.• Adults model reading to children.• Everybody reads!• The number of readers in several key age groups

increases.

Initiative #2Key Components of Lake County Reads:•The Literacy Task Force will provide support, training and assistance in the implementation of the program.•The club pays $500 for the books, which are selected for you.•The club coordinates with both the elementary school and high school.•The is an ongoing process. It will establish patterns and habits.•The time commitment for members is limited and doable, while the results are sizable.•Our efforts to improve literacy will be measurable.•We can measure the number of elementary school students, high school students and adults that participate.•We can increase the number of organizations that participate and watch our numbers grow!

Initiative #2

Lake County Reads

Short term goal: Four or five organizations sponsors schools for the 2012/2013 school year

Long term goal: Every elementary school in Lake County participating.

Over 8,500 participants – including elementary students, high school students and adults.

Lake County Literacy Task Force (LCLTF)Contact us for further information regarding the Task Force:

Wally Holbrook, Lake County Office of Educationwholbrook@lakecoe.org707-262-4100

Richard Smith, Community Memberchimeratsea@yahoo.com278-7268

Carla Hoff, Kelseyville Elementaryhoffcj@hotmail.com279-4232