Our Approach
Literacy is a dynamic, transformative and empowering process that can lead to personal success as well as social justice.
How We’re Making a Difference
As an early literacy organization, Make Way for Books works to change the educational and literacy landscape by ensuring more underserved children have the opportunity to discover the joy and power of books and reading.
Story School
The majority of our nation’s children lack access to high-quality early literacy and educational experiences prior to kindergarten. Story School is an early literacy program designed to meet families’ needs for bilingual (English and Spanish) and culturally responsive early literacy learning opportunities for young children (ages 0-5). Our proven approach supports families who face obstacles to early literacy and learning opportunities.
Story School is a two-generation model, meaning children and their caregivers learn together simultaneously — and gain critical skills together. Using books and stories as a primary tool, our model fosters children’s emergent literacy and language skills while empowering parents with the knowledge, confidence and skills to create these powerful learning experiences and integrate them into their routines at home.
Through twice-weekly sessions over 6 weeks, Story School provides opportunities for writing and drawing, music and movement, and intentional read-alouds. The program offers strategies for literacy and language development and helps parents learn different ways to engage with books. In each session, families:
- Connect with other families with young children
- Learn about five critical early literacy skills needed before kindergarten
- Receive up to 22 high-quality children’s books to keep, and gain access to our app
- Practice reading with their kids while receiving feedback to highlight what they are doing well
- Connect with other families with young children
The Story Project
The Story Project provides evidence-based early literacy support to educators and children at preschools, childcare centers and home providers.
Our early literacy specialists provide one-on-one coaching and professional development workshops for nearly 500 educators annually. We visit under-resourced preschools and childcare centers across Arizona to provide ongoing coaching to educators throughout the school year.
Specialists support educators in:
- Providing literacy and language-rich interactions
- Implementing quality shared reading experiences for young children
- Creating writing centers
- Integrating literacy into daily activities
- Supporting social-emotional development through literacy
- Discovering other methods of increasing the culture of literacy in their classrooms
In addition, Make Way for Books’ early literacy specialists offer a variety of interactive professional development workshops for hundreds of early childhood educators each year. Our survey data shows 98% of educators in this program gain strategies, skills and tools to support the emergent literacy and language development of young children in their care.
Support Early Childhood Literacy
Too many children start school behind — and without early support, they often stay behind. Your gift helps Make Way for Books equip families and educators with the skills and resources to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
