Will I be reading at the library?
The storytimes take place at Preschool classrooms in DPS, Head Start Centers and Early Childhood Education Centers in the Denver area. Reliable transportation is required.
May I choose the school where I read?
Based on your location, the program coordinator will match you with a school. We will try to place you near your home or office; however that may not always be possible. We try to place you no more than 5 miles from your preferred address (home or work).
May I choose my own books?
No, our team sends them to your local library in Denver a week ahead. The books are selected, for their excellence and importance in children’s literature, by the Read Aloud staff. Each book set contains 4-5 stories and the books are carefully chosen to represent a variety of stories and styles.
Will I be teaching the children to read?
The Read Aloud Program provides a weekly 30-minute storytime provided by you in a classroom. You will not be tutoring or teaching the children. The goal of the program is having fun while doing storytime and sharing the love for books.
What ages are the children I will be reading to?
The children are in preschool. They are 3-5 years old.
What is the program’s philosophy?
The program serves children from lower-income families who are attending Head Start and early childhood education centers. The purpose of the Read Aloud Program is to give these children the opportunity to experience the joy of reading, to develop a love of books, and to promote the use of the library.
What is the time commitment?
Those interested in joining the program should plan to read at least one semester (14 weeks). During the week readers need to pickup their books, prepare their storytime time and visit the classroom(s) they have been assigned to. Books are sent a week ahead before they are meant to be read, so you can plan accordingly.
Where do I pick up my books?
You may select a Denver Public Library branch near your home or office and we will deliver your books there weekly.
I have not received any books this week...what should I do?
If for whatever reason you don´t have books at your local library and you have not received any notifications, you have 3 options:
- Reuse books from the previous week. As we send 4 or 5 books weekly but you only read a max of 2, there are always 2 additional ones that you can read.
- Pick some of your favorite titles from the shelves and treat them like they are Read Aloud books.
- Ask a staff member at the branch to help you pick a couple of books that would work great for storytime.