1. Dr. Terri Tharp ALER Conference: November 3, 2012

2.  Promote literacy skills in children and families  To facilitate parent-child collaboration and communication  Strengthen school and family relationship  Provide pre-service teachers the opportunity to experience building relationships with children and families

3. Community Read to Succeed Local Restaurants Volunteers University Pre-service teachers Faculty Local Schools Murfreesboro City Schools Rutherford County Schools

4. One Night – Entire School Two Nights – K-2 & 3-6 Four Nights – Selected Families

5. Dinner is provided for the families and pre- service teachers by the community partners. Pre-service teachers, along with support from the faculty, implement a planned literacy program with family members and their children. The activities include a read aloud, modeling strategies for reading and discussing books with children, and participating together in extension activities related to the book. At the conclusion of each meeting, families are given a hardback copy of the book read during the session.

6. FamiliesPre-service TeachersSchool Personnel *Enjoy the program. *Learn a variety of techniques to promote reading at home. *Enjoy having time to engage in activities with their children. *The meal is a plus! *Improvement in abilities to interact with family members. *Improvement in planning and implementing literacy activities, modeling strategies, and engaging families and children in learning. *Children and families responded positively to the opportunity to work with pre-service teachers, faculty, and Read to Succeed personnel. *Teachers enjoy participating in the program without having to plan and implement the activities.

7.  Terri.Tharp@mtsu.edu Terri.Tharp@mtsu.edu  www.readtosucceed.org www.readtosucceed.org