Black Hills Reads

The first five years of a child’s life are a time of enormous social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth. Nearly half of the children in our community are not prepared for kindergarten. Our goal is to close the school readiness gap and to help families gain the tools necessary to achieve the greatest success in preparing their children for kindergarten. Together, with our community partners, United Way of the Black Hills is working to ensure children enter school ready to learn, improve early reading proficiency, increase attendance, and raise graduation rates.

The Facts:

• For every 50 children who don’t learn to read in kindergarten – 44 of them will be less likely to be proficient readers by 3rd grade.
• Approximately 27 states collect data on school readiness of children entering kindergarten.
• 85% of the brains neural connections are made in the first 5 years of life. Yet this age group has the least amount of focus nationally and in South Dakota.
• Nearly 25% of SD children are unaccounted for and have no access to early childhood education before entering kindergarten. 

Our Programs:

• Community Bookshelves
• Imagination Book Stops
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
• Baby’s First Book Bag
• Power Hour

Parents Set the Stage

Parents play the most powerful and influential role in his or her child’s life. They are the child’s first teacher, brain builder, tech navigator, advocate, and coach. Parents set the stage for success in the early years and early grades. Parents can best prepare children for school, establish good school attendance habits, and prevent summer learning loss. Black Hills Reads recognizes that parents are the secret ingredient!

Tips to Help Your Child Become a Successful Reader:

• Read to your child every day and make it routine.
• Talk and listen in everything you do.
• Take books with you wherever you go.
• Have books at home.
• Visit your local library.

Our Programs

• Race to Read
• Community Bookshelves
• Power Hour
• Imagination Book Stops
• Baby’s First Book Bag
• Young Writers Contest
• Porter Project
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

“You can never get enough books into the hands of enough children.” – Dolly Parton

Access to books is a critical foundation for early literacy and lifelong learning. Yet many children in our community grow up with limited or no access to age-appropriate books in their homes or neighborhoods. Children who have books at home and are read to regularly are more likely to develop strong language skills, a love of reading, and the confidence needed to succeed in school.

The Facts:

• According to USAReads.org, 61% of low-income children in America grow up in homes without books.
• Children growing up in low-income households have access to far fewer books than their peers, limiting early exposure to language and print.
• Children who have books in the home are more likely to develop strong reading skills and succeed academically.

Our Programs:

• Community Bookshelves
• Imagination Book Stops
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
• Baby’s First Book Bag
• The Porter Project
• Young Readers One Book