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Reading is not only a critical skill but also a joyful activity that sparks creativity, curiosity, and connections within families. Establishing a regular reading routine at home is essential, yet busy schedules often make it difficult for families to dedicate enough time to reading together.
To address these challenges, Catapult Learning offers Learning Bags—a cost-effective way to encourage family reading and discussion. These fun, educational resources grab children’s attention, engaging them in learning beyond the classroom.
Reading at Home Improves Academic Performance
Finding time for reading at home can be tough, but its benefits are undeniable. Students who spend more time reading develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and literacy skills that set them up for success.
Consider these insights:
- In 2020, half of 9-year-olds scoring in the top 25% on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reported reading for fun almost every day, compared to 39% of their peers scoring in the bottom 25%.
- Children who are read to at least three times a week by a family member are nearly twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading compared to children who are read to less than three times a week.
- In 2023, the average reading score for students who reported reading for fun on their own almost every day was 275, which was higher than the scores for students who reported lower levels of frequency in reading on their own time.
Catapult Learning’s Reading and Activity Bags are designed to support at-home literacy with creative and interactive resources. These tools encourage students to stretch their reading abilities while exploring real-world connections through hands-on activities.
Reading at Home Creates Family Bonds and Memories
Reading isn’t just about literacy; it’s an opportunity for families to create cherished moments together. A Scholastic survey found that more than 80% of kids and parents enjoy read-aloud time. Taking a few minutes each day to read together not only improves skills but also strengthens family connections.
Learning Bags support families in establishing consistent reading routines, helping parents become more involved in their child’s learning. By connecting what’s read at home to classroom lessons and real-world experiences, these resources spark meaningful discussions between parents and children.
Interactive Reading Sparks Creativity
Interactive reading engages children and nurtures their love for books. According to Scholastic, 85% of children ask questions during read-aloud time by age 8. This type of interaction helps them develop a deeper connection to reading and strengthens their enthusiasm for learning.
When kids are excited about reading, their interests and preferences take shape. Scholastic reports that 90% of children aged 3 to 11 choose the books they want during read-aloud time, leading to even more interactive experiences. Asking questions, using silly character voices, or making sound effects adds to the fun and creativity.
While there is no proven cause-effect relationship, Scholastic found that kids ages 6 to 11 who actively participate in read-aloud time by making noises/sound effects or asking questions are more likely to be frequent readers than children who don’t participate in this manner.
Scholastic research shows that children ages 6 to 11 who actively participate in read-alouds with sounds effects or questions are more likely to become frequent readers. Learning Bags facilitate these interactive experiences with a wide range of books and activities tailored to different reading levels and interests. Additionally, Activity Bags promote inquiry-based learning, encouraging students to learn by doing.
A Learning Bags Case Study: Orleans Parish (New Orleans) Schools
Learning Bags have proven to be useful tools in re-engaging and motivating students to read and learn. During the 2023-24 school year, to re-engage students and address learning gaps, Orleans Parish (New Orleans) schools partnered with Catapult Learning to provide nearly 4,000 Learning Bags to students and their families during the 2023-24 school year as well as the current school year.
In doing so, Catapult Learning supported Orleans Parish’s efforts to engage students through exploratory learning that includes inquiry-based texts, games, and activities that build literacy in STEM and other topics.
Both students and parents were thrilled to receive these Learning Bags, with many expressing gratitude and sharing that they’ve truly enjoyed and benefited from the engaging and educational resources within each Learning Bag.
Learn More About Learning Bags
Learning Bags not only provide engaging materials for students, but they also help families better understand their child’s learning journey and how they can support it at home. This fosters important family discussions and strengthens connections between schools and families.
With more than 30 themes across K-12 content areas, Learning Bags meet diverse student needs and interests while establishing lifelong learning habits. Caregiver Support Bags, which equip parents with additional resources to tackle today’s challenges, are also available.
To learn more, download our catalog.