Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities - PRIME TIME Family Reading Time Program

PRIME TIME Family Reading Program draws children ages 6 to 10 with low-level reading skills and thier families into the community of readers by bonding parents and children around the act of reading through discussion of humanities issues found in outstanding children’s literature. PRIME TIME and bilingual PRIME TIME provide a unique six- to eight-week program of reading, discussion, and storytelling at public libraries and other venues. A discussion leader and storyteller conduct weekly book discussion and storytelling programs for children ages 6 to 10 and their parents. Pre-reading activities are also provided for younger siblings. Bilingual PRIME TIME programs are specifically tailored for Spanish/English speaking families, with culturally diverse titles provided in both languages, and discussion supported bilingually by trained translators and team members. PRIME TIME reinforces the role of the family; successfully trains parents and children to bond around reading; encourages parents and children to read and discuss humanities topics, fostering high academic expectations and achievement for children in non-English speaking, low-literacy and/or low-income families; encourages non-English speaking, low-literacy and/or low-income parents to enter or continue their own educational or ESL programs; and helps parents and children learn how to select books and become active users of library resources and lifelong readers.