October is dyslexia awareness month. Dyslexia is a learning disability that one in five students have, and affects about 80% of those with a learning disability. Discovered in 1881, dyslexia is often characterized by difficulty rhyming, associating sounds with symbols, and sequencing and ordering sounds. Other signs include difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words, or reading […]
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AmeriCorps VISTA
Andrew Kirkland AmeriCorps VISTA, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque As you go about your life, you might run into someone who is involved with AmeriCorps — maybe at work or just in the community. You might also wonder what AmeriCorps is. You’ve likely heard of the Peace Corps, the organization that sends volunteers to impoverished […]
Summer Fun in Dubuque
Summer is a time for fun and relaxation — and a break from school. Summer also is a time of great opportunity. In Dubuque, we are lucky to have a wide variety of programs and events through which students can play and learn in hands-on, enriching environments. The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading partners recognize the […]
Parent Engagement Sessions Empower Local Parents
Deanna Roberson moved to Dubuque eight years ago to pursue a safer life for her and her kids. She believes in doing everything she can to ensure her sons Marcus, 16, and Kryi, 6, can succeed in life. “As long as my kids are smiling, I’m smiling,” she says with Kyri smiling next to her. […]
Meet Jamie
Jamie may just be a few months old, but like too many children from low-income families, she will begin school already far behind. Since Jamie is less likely to be read or spoken to regularly or have access to books, high-quality daycare, and prekindergarten programs, she will be two times more likely to experience developmental […]
Summer Adventure Improves Reading Scores for Kids in Jackson County
The morning started with a free bus ride and breakfast, the most important meal of the day some would say. A morning of high-quality reading and math instruction followed before students ate lunch and headed off to their afternoon adventure. Whether it was learning about robots, doing yoga or exploring nature, students were able to […]
Family Literacy Nights Foster Parent Engagement in Dyersville
Family literacy nights have become a key strategy for the Dyersville Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. Initially, family literacy nights were created to give area providers a platform to share resources, provide information about the importance of reading aloud, and encourage parents to create an environment at home where reading is fun and a part of […]
Strong Partnerships Impact Reading Scores and Attendance for Dubuque Students
When Lenore Meyer found out that one of her students had listed “Mrs. Meyer” as her favorite thing about school, she knew she was doing something right. Working as an AmeriCorps academic tutor during the 2016-2017 school year, Lenore would work with students on their reading skills, but more importantly, she was another caring adult […]
Creating a Culture of Summer Learning in Northeast Iowa
For hundreds of kids across Dubuque and Jackson Counties, this summer was not only a time to explore new things and have fun, but it was also a time to keep learning all summer long. Research shows that summer learning loss is one of the most significant causes of the achievement gap between lower- and […]
Dubuque Receives All-America City Award for Efforts to Improve Early Literacy
Dubuque has received the prestigious All-America City Award (AAC Award) for its civic engagement to help more young children from low-income families achieve grade-level reading proficiency and early school success. Dubuque was one of just 15 communities nationwide to receive the award from the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and the National Civic League, which created the […]