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Date: 2/3/2022
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Since 2012, the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement program, also known as Community and Family Engagement (CAFE), of West Springfield has been a satellite partner with Raising a Reader MA and the West Springfield Public Library, helping families develop strong habits of reading at home.
According to Rebecca Burgos, coordinator of CAFE, Raising a Reader was founded in 2006. Since becoming the coordinator in 2018, she has taken the reins of this program in West Side.
During their weekly programs, a storytime is offered to the children. Additionally, they are provided with a red “Raising a Reader” bag that has four stories inside. Burgos explained that the children can bring this bag home, read the books, and return them the following week. Children then have the opportunity to share what their favorite book of the week was and why. She noted that all of the books are “diverse,” and are targeted towards children 3-5 years of age.
She went on to say that Raising a Reader has a designated curriculum that CAFE uses and follows for all children.
“By participating in this program, children develop pre-reading skills, and families learn to develop and practice shared reading habits at home.”
“Research shows [that the] most important skill is when parents are reading to their children,” Burgos added.
She recommends to parents that they create a reading routine, such as incorporating it into a child’s bedtime cycle. Children learn by asking questions and working with their parents to talk about pictures and point out new words. Burgos also suggests reading each book more than once, as children absorb information best through repetition.
“Aim to read at least 15 minutes per day,” said Burgos.
Beginning Feb. 11, the Raising a Reader winter session will take place every Friday, 1-2 p.m., continuing through March 25. The program is offered in the Youth Room of the library at 200 Park St., West Springfield.
This session was supposed to begin on Jan. 13, but the start date was pushed back in response to rising COVID-19 infection rates.
The program is limited to 10 families, decreased from the 16 per session allowed prior to the pandemic. As of last week, seats for seven children were still open. Registration is on a first-come basis.
Those who wish to join the program but miss the cutoff can be placed on a waitlist. A spring session will be offered May 6 through June 10. Registration opens in April. More information can be found at www.facebook.com/westsplfdcafe. There is no entry fee.
“Families love the program and kids love their red bags,” said Burgos.
At the end of the program, the children get to keep a red bag, a few books, and are rewarded with a certificate of completion.
Throughout the pandemic, Burgos has noticed a “social-emotional behavior impact” on the children CAFE serves. In an effort to alter this trend and continue their services, CAFE offered families a red bag pick-up while its in-person program was put on hold. Burgos even made deliveries for those who requested it.
Now that the program is back in person, parents are required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. Currently, there is not a mask requirement for the children, but masking is encouraged.
“We don’t have a mask mandate in West Springfield, but [CAFE is] under the School Department,” said Burgos. Schools throughout Massachusetts are required to enforce a mask mandate for anyone aged 5 and up.
CAFE is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, and administered by the West Springfield School Department.