The event empowered kindergarten parents with simple, effective ways to help their children practice reading at home.
In collaboration with Reading Horizons, a leading provider of foundational literacy programs, Cleveland County Schools hosted a highly successful Ready to Read Family Night on September 12, 2024. Nearly 100 families attended the event, which was open to all kindergarten families in Cleveland County Schools.
Ready to Read Family Night is part of an ongoing partnership between Cleveland County Schools and Reading Horizons, designed to establish a solid literacy foundation for all students. The event underscored the critical role of reading in academic success and was designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and home practice. The night’s primary focus was to provide the necessary tools and support to foster a love of reading and enhance literacy skills at home and in the classroom.
“There’s no better time than the start of the school year to connect with the families of our newest students by offering them effective materials and practical strategies to promote reading practice at home,” said Lisa Smith, Literacy Coach for Cleveland County Schools. “By the end of the evening, we wanted families to feel confident using these resources to help their children become more proficient readers.”
The evening included a family dinner followed by an overview of the Reading Horizons program. The majority of the time was dedicated to providing parents with practical and actionable strategies they can easily implement at home to support their young readers effectively
“The parents of Cleveland County showed up ready to learn,” said Sean Lindsey, Director of Education Solutions at Reading Horizons. “The energy at Ready to Read Family Night was electric! Phonemic awareness and letter sound knowledge are the best predictors of how well a child will learn to read during their first two years of school. We wanted to equip families with that knowledge and provide strategies and tools they can use at home. It was truly a night to remember.”
After the event, several parents noted that the evening left a lasting impact, expressing excitement about learning how to support their child’s reading journey at home—whether through hands-on games, engaging exercises, or informative presentations.
