Announcing the Head Start Read Aloud Challenge
NHSA’s effort to raise literacy awareness and reduce summer learning loss
For many Head Start children, summer poses a new set of challenges. The combination of less class time, fewer books, and limited opportunities for social interaction and connection can have detrimental effects known as “summer learning loss” or the “summer slide.” The academic and social gains made during a school year can be compromised or lost if children don’t continue to use and improve on these new and developing skills.
This year, because of closures due to the COVID-19 public health threat, children are experiencing an even longer break in their classroom routine. The need for parents and other caregivers to take action to prevent their children’s summer learning loss is more important than ever.
That’s why NHSA is launching the national Head Start Read Aloud Challenge! This is a challenge to all adults to record and post story read alouds. Through this initiative, NHSA is leading the Head Start community in promoting literacy and raising awareness of the learning loss that occurs when school is out for extended times.
The NHSA staff and our partners at Scholastic have kicked off the challenge with a reading of Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Watch it below!
How to Participate
- Select a children’s book. Head Start encourages books that are age, culturally, and linguistically appropriate and responsive.
- Record yourself reading the children’s book. Watch the NHSA staff video for inspiration. You can record an individual video or you can do like NHSA and record your team.
- Post your video to social media. Once you have completed your video, post it online to social media using the hashtag #HeadStartReads and tag @NatlHeadStart. You can also email your videos to NHSA at marketing@nhsa.org.
- Challenge someone! Nominate friends and family to participate in the challenge and read a story for a Head Start child.
To learn more about the Head Start Read Aloud Challenge — including suggested book lists and tips for building children’s reading skills — visit go.nhsa.org/read.
