KUED invites children pre-school through 6th grade to participate in the 18th Annual Reading Marathon. KUED's 18th Annual READING MARATHON, running November 15th, through December 6th, 2010, encourages children and their families to spend quality time reading together.
The literacy event is in partnership with Utah's public libraries and community agencies, including Salt Lake Community Action Program Head Start, Boys & Girls Clubs of Salt Lake, Utah PTA and many more. Last year, more than 3,000 children participated in the Reading Marathon and more than 2,500 children and their parents celebrated with PBS pals "Sid the Science Kid," "Buddy" from Dinosaur Train and "Martha," from Martha Speaks at the Utah State Fairpark. The Super Reader party is the reward for children who complete the required reading.
Families may pick up a reading log at their public library or online at www.kued.org/reading. Children of pre-school age through sixth grade have different reading goals to meet. Details are outlined on the reading log and online. Participants may read alone, read to someone else, or be read to by another person.
"KUED's Reading Marathon is a great way for families to spend time together," says Jacqui Voland, Community Outreach Manager for KUED. "Parental involvement is key to successful outcomes at school and KUED's Reading Marathon, a part of the Ready To Learn education initiative, is a fun way to promote literacy and the many fun and educational programs offered through PBS."
During the month of November, libraries and literacy partners statewide will host kick-off parties. For a list of locations and Reading Marathon requirements, visit the KUED website www.kued.org/reading.
"Providing services online allows us to streamline the process for our community partners and viewers, allowing more time for fun," Voland explains. Mini-grant applications for libraries located 100 miles or more from Salt Lake can also be submitted online this year. Deadline for mini-grants is Friday, December 10th, 2010.
Once children complete the marathon, they will be able to go online and enter their own reading hours. Super Readers can then print both a reading certificate and an invitation to the Super Reader party with our PBS Pals, including Cat from The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! Martha from Martha Speaks, Sid from Sid the Science Kid, Buddy from Dinosaur Train and many more.
At the invitation-only Super Reader Party in January, hands-on learning activities, entertainment and free books are all part of the reward for being a KUED "Super Reader."
For additional information on KUED's READING MARATHON, call (801) 581-6163 or visit www.kued.org/reading.
See what's going on in your community and what's on the KUED Kids block KUED-Channel 7 by visiting www.kued.org/kids, or keep in touch with us on our KUED Kids - FACEBOOK.
Funder Credits:
KUED's Ready To Learn initiative is funded by the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, the Emma Eccles Jones Foundation, United Way of Salt Lake, the R. Harold Burton Foundation, the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, the Herbert I. & Elsa B. Michael Foundation, the Ruth Eleanor Bamberger and John Ernest Bamberger Memorial Foundation, The Boeing Company, U.S. Bank, The Castle Foundation and the Utah Education Association.
In Kind sponsors: Utah State Fairpark, Cream O' Weber, Dairy Council of Utah, Nicholas and Company, Inc. and Utah Family Magazine.
Community Partners of KUED's 2010 READING MARATHON are Salt Lake City Main Public Library, Salt Lake County Library Services, The Library Park City and Summit County libraries, Davis County libraries, Utah State Library Division, Salt Lake CAP Head Start, Utah's Hogle Zoo, Utah Museum of Natural History, Intermountain Therapy Animals, Clark Planetarium, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake, Utah PTA, University Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI), Davis Education Foundation, Davis School District, Mad Science of Greater Salt Lake, Utah Education Network (UEN), the Salt Lake City Section of the American Chemical Society, Thanksgiving Point, Utahns for Public Schools, Commission on Literacy, State of Utah Office of the Governor, Reach Out and Read, Bad Dog Rediscovers America, Discovery Gateway, Red Butte Garden and Safe Kids Salt Lake County.
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