Search Results for: research

By Jayme Carrico Studies have found a child’s access to books plays a significant role in early childhood literacy. One recent study found that providing access to books, book giveaway programs encourage reading time between parents and children, increase a child’s overall interest in reading, and advances a child’s early literacy and language skills. Access to Books Encourages Reading Parents of young children often face time constraints and are more likely to make quick decisions based on environmental factors. If ... Read More

In our digitally saturated world, children encounter screens at an unprecedented rate, engaging with videos, ads, and games during unsupervised "screen time." Meanwhile, a different digital realm exists: that of "digital books," where parents actively participate in reading text and image-based materials with their children. How do these two realms impact parent-child communication, and what role do initiatives like Books Beginning at Birth play in promoting meaningful interactions? Let's delve into the dichotomy. The Screen Time Conundrum: A Study's Perspective ... Read More

BookSpring's annual Texas Reading Survey analyzes reading trends, attitudes, and behaviors in Texas households. These results will help us better understand what is going on with reading in the communities we serve so that we can refine our programs and direct our services more strategically in the coming year.  While the survey asks 40 questions, the metrics we are watching most closely are the number of books in the home, the frequency of reading together, and details about the use ... Read More

In March 2023, Scholastic released a groundbreaking white paper titled "Home Libraries," which highlights the transformative potential of home libraries in closing the achievement gap. This blog post explores the key findings of Scholastic's publication and emphasizes the role of book gifting programs, such as those offered by BookSpring, in fostering a love for reading and improving educational outcomes for children. The Research is Clear: Scholastic's white paper affirms decades of research indicating that access to books in the home ... Read More

The Power of Diverse Books In recent times, discussions about the importance of diverse books have gained significant attention. Amidst the controversies surrounding the teaching of critical race theory in schools, it is vital to understand the value that diverse books bring to children's education. While headlines may focus on the resistance to inclusive education, there is a powerful and encouraging countercurrent emerging beneath the surface. This countercurrent emphasizes the significance of teaching children about race and racism, and the ... Read More

By: Jeannine Herron, et al. In this overview, learn how early literacy benefits from both print-to-speech and speech-to-print instruction, creating connections in the brain that link new knowledge about the alphabet to what children already know and are continuously learning about words. Introduction Recently there have been many discussions among academics about the “Science of Reading.” Such discussions advance science which is constantly evolving over time, but in the meantime, what’s a practitioner on the front lines to do? ... Read More

Parents and educators alike need timely information about how reading today may be different than it was in the past. In 2022, the pandemic, economic stress, and extreme weather events have all put stress on families with children and how they fit reading practices into their daily lives.  To address this need, BookSpring conducts an annual Reading Survey of parents and caregivers to collect data about the reading attitudes and behaviors of families with children 12 and under.  We share ... Read More

By: María José Meneses, Originally published in Porch.com Parents and other family members can enhance the benefits kids can obtain by complementing reading with a few related activities. While you might think that school teachers have plenty of time for these types of activities, the truth is that there often isn’t time during the school day for kids to “luxuriate” over books and book activities. However, you can supplement what happens in the classroom with fun book activities of your own ... Read More

BookSpring is proud that our roots come from Reading Is Fundamental, the national program headquartered in Washington DC.  In addition to being a continuing funder to BookSpring through the Books for Ownership programs, they watch news and trends, such as The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which showed recently that school disruptions caused by COVID-19 have returned us to reading scores seen 30 years ago.  But by working together, we don’t have to wait that long for our children’s ... Read More

Embracing the Digital Age In this rapidly evolving digital age, it is only natural that technology has become an integral part of our lives, including the way we engage with books and stories. As parents, it is important to strike a balance between traditional and digital forms of reading, ensuring that our children benefit from both worlds. With that in mind, BookSpring is here to provide you with valuable tips on how to read together with your young child using ... Read More