Bookshelf in Every Home Project

We co-designed with teachers a project that brings under-resourced parents to schools to inspire reading at home through workshops & decorating bookshelves.

Bookshelf in Every Home Project at Castro Elementary School

At each school we hear the same vision– helping a child learn to read in their kindergarten through third grade years empowers them to read to learn for the rest of their lives.  As a listening partner to educators, we have co-designed with teachers our Bookshelf in Every Home project that brings English language learning families to their child’s school to decorate with their child their personal bookshelf and to “shop” for free books.  Afterwards, the children read their new books with volunteers while their parents participate in a parent education workshop on the importance of supporting literacy at home.

At our recent project, Pablo said with wide open eyes, “Para mi?!” (“For me?!”) .  He said it with regard to the personal size bookshelf and the favorite books he picked out, and he said it as if he couldn’t believe it was really his– as if he didn’t know what he had done to deserve it, but that he was elated to receive it nonetheless. A $50 donation to Reach Potential’s Bookshelf in Every Home project provides a young girl or boy, like Pablo, their very own bookshelf and books while their parents participate in a series of parent education workshops throughout the school year.

If your community group would like to host a three hour Bookshelf in Every Home project on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon for a low income school in Santa Clara County, please CONTACT US and indicate the name of your community group and what city and/or school you would like to serve.  Thank you for your interest!