Crack a book, in fact, 100,000 of them, this summer

By GREG STANTON


Whether you’re a parent or caregiver, we all want the best for our kids. Part of that is making sure they have the reading skills to succeed in school and in life.

That can start with Read on Phoenix at your Phoenix library. Together, we can ensure that every child in Phoenix is reading by the third grade. It’s critical to the future of our kids and our community.

Studies show that if kids aren’t reading at grade level by the time they finish third grade, they are more likely to continue struggling, less likely to graduate high school and will not meet the expectations of the 21st-century workforce.

I’m proud to work with Councilman Daniel Valenzuela on Read on Phoenix, which engages parents, businesses and the community to improve third-grade reading proficiency through school readiness, summer learning opportunities, after-school literacy and volunteerism.

Thanks to partners like the Valley of the Sun United Way, Read on Arizona, the Phoenix Public Library and other city departments, we are targeting literacy resources to the highest-need communities in our city.

Right now, I’m challenging everyone — kids and adults — to collectively read 100,000 books over the summer with my 100,000 Book Challenge as part of Read on Phoenix. As a bonus, the Diamondbacks are throwing in ticket vouchers to get more of you reading as part of the challenge. Also, coming in October, we’ll launch a library-card drive with the goal to get 20,000 parents and kids signed up for library cards.

As part of this initiative, Ready to Read workshops and Family Literacy Nights at the library will give you more early-reading tools and help your children continue reading in school. After-school programs will also focus on family literacy and getting kids to read outside of class.

And if you love volunteering, I encourage you to get involved in the Million Minute Volunteer Reading Challenge sponsored by the Valley of the Sun United Way to track the time adults spend reading to young children. The Teen Volunteer Program will also enlist 400 teen library volunteers over the summer to create reading programs and increase participation in library events.

Check out all of these great events, resources and much more at readonphoenix.phoenixpubliclibrary.org.

Read on Phoenix is more than a program. It’s a commitment to rethink literacy and education to make sure every child in this city is reading by third grade. It’s a critical mission and the only way to build a strong future economy.

http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/phoenixeditorials/2013/06/17/crack-a-book-in-fact-100000-of-them-this-summer/

Solar system info graphic

Solar system info graphic.

            I was commissioned by a space.com representative to make a solar Info graphic for their web site.  They have asked me to include fun facts about each one of the planet with up to date information. And to make sure to have Pluto and a dwarf planet and not the last planet in are solar system. So I will be researching the space.com web site and use the information I find on there site to use on the info graphic, as well as some research in a few text book to make sure the information is 100% accurate.  

            I have decided to make an info graphic that will have the sun with all planets in full color and spaced out away from each other and the one dwarf planet too. I will also include the asteroid ring, the planet rings, moons and a few comets/asteroids flying around as well. A user passes over the planets with the mouse and a pop up will come up that contains a few photos of the planet itself, and some fun facts about that planet with some general information about it also. I will have the solar system info graphic completed by the dead line with all requests and proper information met.