‘Breakfast & Books’ at Sonoma elementary school

El Verano Elementary School has received a grant to help the school increase parent engagement in literacy activities through a daily “Breakfast & Books” reading program, parent workshops and a family literacy night.

Dozens of El Verano students arrive each morning to eat breakfast before school, many with their parents. Thanks to iREAD grant funding, the school can now can make books accessible to families and increase the time that parents and children spend reading together.

Families are encouraged to read with their children before school each morning during breakfast in the school cafeteria. The grant funds will help build bookshelves and acquire high-quality, developmentally appropriate children’s literature.

Parent volunteers trained through El Verano’s Family Resource Center support the program, teaching families how to use the Breakfast & Books library resources, modeling reading aloud with children, and reading with children who do not have a family member present.

iREAD materials such as posters, postcards and bookmarks help to educate families and create excitement around reading books together.

According to El Verano Principal Maite Iturri, the plan going forward is for parents to take part in workshops, literacy nights and author visits that focus on building literacy habits at home and for families to receive take-home baggies with culturally relevant and age appropriate books.