As teachers around the United States gear up for back to school, Heifer International has a free resource for educators wanting new and innovative ways to motivate their students to read.
With a proven curriculum that meets Common Core standards, Read to Feed® is a reading incentive program that also teaches kids about global issues. The program comes equipped with customizations for any classroom based on the specific reading goals for each student and grade.
Teachers and classroom leaders can order the Read to Feed kit for easy-to-use program resources and find lesson plans, exciting videos, certificates, donation forms and other information online at www.readtofeed.org.
There are many inspiring stories across the country of students exhibiting surprising generosity, incredible dedication and life-changing efforts to help others. Students can learn more than they ever thought possible from a reading program, and at the same time are contributing to Heifer’s important mission of ending hunger and poverty.
Ethan Reno, a fourth grader at West Bath School in Maine, is one such student who put his heart into his school’s Read to Feed effort this year. He was named the School’s Read to Feed ambassador and motivated his fellow students beyond expectation.
“I want to help you inspire more students to join Read to Feed this year because I want to help save more children.” Ethan said.
A total of 90 students joined the campaign and worked to raise enough money to buy an Ark, a gift valued at $5,000. Ethan worked after school and during his recess time with the school’s librarian on the campaign. All told, participants had read 1,250 books and raised more than $7,000. Not only did the students reach these accomplishments, they also internalized the spirit of giving that will serve them for years to come.
Children participating in Read to Feed (individually or as a group) get sponsors for each book, chapter or unit of time they read during their challenge period. The teachers can create their own customized fundraising page on the program’s website to offer sponsors an easy way to donate and to keep track of their progress toward their goal. At the end of the program, the group pools the funds raised and decides which animals to donate through Heifer International, which will help families move from hunger to self-reliance.
To learn more or to order the Read to Feed kit, email info@heifer.org or call 877-275-READ (7323). The Read to Feed videos and materials can also be downloaded at www.readtofeed.org.
Lamb Chop Wants You to Read to Feed from Heifer International on Vimeo.
About Heifer International:
Heifer’s mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. Since 1944, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Heifer is currently working in 40 countries, including the United States, to help families and communities become more self-reliant. For more information, visit www.heifer.org or call 1-800-696-1918.
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