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Tim Bath I Kokomo TribunePRESCHOOL: Josh Feller reads to a preschool class at Taylor Elementary as part of the United Way’s Real Men Read program on Monday.Showing kids that men do read■I Program aims at raising respect for books, kindergarten readinessBY CAELE PEMBERTONKOKOMO TRIBUNEDoug Workinger loves to read. He often reads at home, and on a few occasions, he find a captive audience with his granddaughter, to whom he reads out loud.But seldom has Workinger, assistant director of the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library, hosted a story time with a room full of children.Workinger is one of 25 volunteers for the first round of Real Men Read, an initiative through the United Way of Howard County aimed at raising awareness for reading and kindergarten readiness. The program is part of the organization’s 75 in 5 campaign with the goal of raising kindergarten readiness in the county from 45 percent to 75 percent.The program officially kicked off earlier this year with two community members reading at the YMCA Early Learning Center. Over the last few months, the United Way of Howard County has been working to train its first round of volunteers, and as of Monday, the program is in full swing.Workinger sat in front of a classroom of preschool children at Microchips Early Learning Center in Kokomo, ready to captivate them with a collection of colorful children’s books.He started with the book “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books,” by Lucille Colandro. As he announced the title, some children started giggling.“Ew!” A few exclaimed.“That’s yucky,” another said.“That’s crazy!” said another.Workinger read three more books during his time with the class, and he’ll return over the next five weeks, while other volunteers visit locations such as Bona Vista“You don’t see adult men reading. You see adult women reading, you see mom reading, but you don’t see adult men reading.When this program came along, I thought this is a great opportunity to show little kids that men do read.”DOUGWORKINGERand the YMCA.For Workinger, the idea to volunteer for the program started about a year and a half ago, when he sat down for a meeting with Partners in Education. The Kokomo CEO class, made up of high school students studying entrepreneurism, also attended the meeting, and one of the students mentioned that he believed it would be important to see more men reading books.“One of the young men from the CEO class said we need to see more men reading books for pleasure,” Workinger said. “You don’t see adult men reading. You see adult women reading, you see mom reading, but you don't see adult men reading. When this program came along, I thought this is a great opportunity to show little kids that men do read.” Though Workinger isn’t used to reading in front of large groups of children, he said he was able to practice with his granddaughter, who particularly seemed to enjoy a book titled “How to Babysit a Grandpa,” by Jean Reagan.For the United Way of Howard County, the initiative is both a way to promote its 75 in 5 goal and connect more men in the community with volunteering and early childhood education. But while the program is named Real Men Read, anyone can volunteer for the program.Bailey Kelley, communications coordinator for the United Way of Howard County, said the initiative is off to a strong start.“This program is working toward our goal of 75 in 5, and we can’t wait to see how this helps us achieve that goal,” Kelley said.Through Real Men Read, students up to 5 years old can register for the Imagination Library, which provides age-appropriate books to registered children each month. To find out more about Real Men Read or about the Imagination Library, visit http://unitedwayhoco.org/ community/education/real-men-read.
Newspaper Details
Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo, Indiana, US
Tue, Sep 12, 2017
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Kokomo-Howard C.
IN, USA 15 Aug 2023
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