At East Hills Academy, one of our major areas of focus and development will be reading. There is a wealth of research showing that children who read—and especially those who are regularly read to at home—experience significantly higher levels of academic and personal success.
Reading aloud will be a part of our daily classroom routine because it helps foster creativity, focus, imagination, and a desire to learn. As you likely know, our core value is to kindle a love of knowledge. We don’t simply want to give students facts and information; we want them to love seeking out knowledge, exploring new ideas, and engaging with great stories.
That passion for reading is one reason you’ve likely seen us popping up at local libraries. The Pikes Peak Library District has been incredibly generous in allowing us to share information about our school throughout the community. We’ve had the opportunity to visit many of the libraries within the District 11 area, encouraging families who are checking out books and enjoying conversations about what people are reading and learning.
Reading has always been an important part of my own family’s life. For years, I’ve read to my children nearly every night, often sharing a chapter from a chapter book before bed. We visit the library multiple times each week to check out new books, and more often than not, you’ll find me listening to an audiobook while I’m driving.
This summer, if you see us at the library, please stop by and say hello. We’d love to meet you, whether you’re interested in our school or simply share our love of reading. Dr. Tina Errthum, our Academic Program Development Specialist, has also developed a summer reading list to help families discover quality books that align with their children’s grade levels. We’re excited to offer this resource free of charge as we partner with parents in fostering a love of learning and knowledge in their children.
We hope you’ll join us at a library near you, especially East Library. We look forward to seeing you this summer!