Ready Readers

Embarking On A New Initiative

In 2016, Muncie Public Library embarked on a new educational initiative that grew from a citywide effort to improve and expand upon early childhood education opportunities in the community. That initiative, then under the direction of licensed teacher Katie Lehman, would eventually be known as Ready Readers. The free program aimed “to work with families…to help their children or the children they care for develop the reading skills they will need to be successful” (Star Press, 07-18-2016). It focused on children living in the neighborhoods surrounding Grissom, Sutton, and South View Elementary at first, but by 2021, Ready Readers helped students from all throughout Muncie with their reading literacy. 

The Methodology

Each one-on-one session with children emphasized meeting children where they were at in their educational journey and focused on building relationships and face-to-face instruction without the use of technology within the classroom. Instead, lessons were based around games and play so that teacher and student could interact throughout the session. At the end of the lesson, the instructor gave parents materials to continue the learning at home. This methodology showed results from the very start! By September 2016, three students had already brought up their reading grades, and more importantly, the children enrolled in the program had more confidence. In fact, Ready Readers participants have consistently raised their reading levels 2.5-3 levels over the course of the school year since its inception. 

The Pandemic Strikes

Ready Readers Today

Although the virtual session option proved beneficial to families during a time of uncertainty, today, Ready Readers has returned to its emphasis on face-to-face instruction with limited technology during sessions held at Maring-Hunt Library and now works in close partnership with Great Achievers, MPL's afterschool educational program. In the nine years it has served the community, it has consistently grown from teaching 14 students to 57 as of Fall 2024. Furthermore, Ready Readers now works with children in grades K-8, which is a change from previous years. This is in response to the learning loss for many students during the COVID-19 pandemic.  As Ready Readers looks to the future, their philosophy on the program is "every year is a pilot year." The program will continue to respond to the ever-changing needs of the Muncie-Center Township community while remaining play-based and enthusiastic about learning. 

An Award-Winning Program

Thanks to the program’s innovation, not only have many libraries throughout Indiana shown interest in instituting their own version of Ready Readers, but also former Early Literacy Coordinator Katie Lehman had spoken to organizations in Illinois, Ohio, and even as far away as Nevada about the program. Furthermore, Lehman, through her work with Ready Readers, was named as a 2022 Next Generation of Afterschool Leader by the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) as well as the D. Susan Wisely Indiana Youth Worker of the Year by the Indiana Youth Institute that same year. 

Sources

Ready Readers Monthly Reports. (2016-2023). MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library. 

“Going door to door to raise literacy.” (07-18-2016). Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library. 

Lehman, Katie. “MPL Ready Readers Program Went Virtual in 2 Weeks.” Muncie Journal. (09-28-2020). https://www.munciejournal.com/2020/09/mpl-ready-readers-program-went-virtual-in-2-weeks/ 

MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Sehgal, Katherine. “Ready Readers Program plans to expand its volunteers.” Newslink Indiana. (04-13-2022). https://www.ballstatedaily.com/newslink/article/2022/04/ready-readers-program-plans-to-expand-its-volunteers 

Warner, Gina and Susan Fisher. “Muncie Public Library’s Katie Lehman Honored by National Leadership Program.” Muncie Journal. (03-14-2022). http://www.munciejournal.com/2022/03/muncie-public-librarys-katie-lehman-honored-by-national-leadership-program/