Pitt Volunteer Brings Gift of Reading to Langley Kindergarten May 16

PITTSBURGH—“I would read to my kids,” said a parent of a local kindergarten student to the teacher. “But we don’t have any books at home.”

It was hearing that anecdote that inspired Joanna Kemp (A&S 2014) to take action. An AmeriCorps Public Ally volunteer working with the Ready Freddy Pathways to Kindergarten Success program at the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development, Kemp had only been at Pittsburgh Langley K-8 for a month at that point. But, feeling as though she had to do something, Kemp spearheaded a successful book drive last fall and is ready to distribute even more books May 16 to all 95 eager kindergarten students at the school.

Distribution of hundreds of children’s books will take place from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. May 16 in the school cafeteria at Pittsburgh Langley K-8, 2940 Sheraden Blvd., Sheraden.

Books were donated over the past several months by the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children, residents of the West End, teachers and staff members at Pittsburgh Langley K-8, and staffers at Pitt’s Office of Child Development.

As of last month, Kemp had about 700 books to distribute.

“Library books are wonderful, but it’s important that kids have books they can call their own,” said Kemp. “These are books they can read over and over again and love! And when kindergarten students are excited about reading and learning, great things can happen.”

About Ready Freddy Pathways to Kindergarten Success
Launched by the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development in 2008, the Ready Freddy program aims to increase awareness of the importance of a quality transition to kindergarten for children and families. In its early stages, the project was able to increase enrollment in one community from 25 percent to 100 percent through family involvement, community input, and grassroots outreach. Through these and other efforts—including the large green Freddy the Frog mascot presiding over first-day-of-school celebrations—Ready Freddy has made Pittsburgh Public Schools more welcoming to kindergarteners and their families, has improved attendance levels at multiple schools, and has expanded, in some form, to 20 other states.

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