Spencer
Russell, Founder of Toddlers Can Read, Joins Lovevery as
Head of Literacy Strategy
BOISE,
Idaho, July 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lovevery,
the global early childhood brand, today announced its solution to
address widening gaps in early childhood literacy with its latest
innovation: The Reading Skill Set — a phonics-based
program that motivates elementary-aged children to read through
elements of play.
According to the National Assessment of Educational
Progress, 67% of US 4th graders are reading below the
proficient level. Some experts estimate that up to 65% of children
will struggle to read without explicit phonics-based instruction.
Lovevery is responding to this need with the introduction of The
Reading Skill Set. This research-backed program aims to make
learning to read engaging, motivating, and confidence-building for
both children and their parents.
"Learning to read is hard for many children. It's a technical
process that requires perseverance and a lot of practice. We know
that a child's mindset and attitude can make a crucial difference.
If they start to lose confidence, they tend to resist. We set out
to fix that," said Jessica Rolph,
Lovevery Cofounder and CEO. "We spent 2 years researching the
most effective ways to help children learn to read, then
incorporated what we already know about how children play and
learn. The Reading Skill Set is specifically designed to keep
children motivated as they learn to read through play."
According to a Lovevery poll conducted in partnership with
YouGov, the majority of parents say they seek external support
beyond school resources to help their child learn to read, with
many experiencing challenges and frustrations along the way.
"In our research, we learned that parents feel a strong sense of
responsibility to teach their children how to read, with 99% of
parents being directly involved in their children's early literacy
development. Unfortunately, we also learned that 1 in 4 feel
negatively and overwhelmed in the process," said Roderick Morris, Lovevery Cofounder and
President. "As Lovevery expands its reach from the earliest
years to now include skills-based programs which support the
developmental journey of older children, our ultimate goal is to
support more families, in more ways, for more years. We're thrilled
that The Reading Skill Set can provide hands-on, confidence
building resources to best support children and families"
The Reading Skill Set is a 3-part learning program designed to
meet children where they are in their reading journey. Sold
individually, each part thoughtfully incorporates play with
phonics, offering a purposeful array of games and activities
alongside relatable and engaging books. The Reading Skill Set is
comprised of:
- Part 1: Sounds to Reading (Pre-K and Kindergarten
skills). In Part 1, children will learn how to break up words
into sounds and the most common sound of each letter; making
reading motivating and fun from the start. Includes 9 games and 7
books.
- Part 2: Words to Books (Kindergarten and 1st Grade
skills). In Part 2, children will start to become more
independent, learning to blend words with more speed and accuracy,
and building comprehension skills through books and fun
storytelling games. Includes 7 games and 13 books.
- Part 3: Advanced Rules to Chapter Books (1st and 2nd Grade
skills). In Part 3, children will learn advanced vowel rules,
prefixes, and suffixes. They'll also build inference, reading
stamina, and comprehension, eventually reading their very first
chapter books all on their own. Includes 4 games and 27 books.
With The Reading Skill Set, children will stay motivated through
the entire process of learning to read, because it's unlike
anything else currently available in three key ways:
Making phonics fun: Research shows that incorporating
phonics is the best approach for learning to read. But many
associate phonics with those no-fun reading drills. The Reading
Skill Set combines phonics with play to keep children motivated.
Our program is proof that phonics can be fun without a screen, and
best of all, it's child-led.
Creating a sensory learning experience: Lovevery believes
the deepest learning happens off of a screen. When you get multiple
senses involved – speaking, listening, touching – research shows
that children gain a deeper understanding of what they're
learning.
Knowing what works: A lot of parents feel like they
need to educate themselves before they can help their child learn –
that's not the case here. Lovevery worked with the best literacy,
phonics, Montessori, and early education experts to create this
easy-to-follow program that advances children from letter sounds
all the way to chapter books.
Lovevery also announced that Spencer
Russell, founder of early childhood literacy program
Toddlers Can Read, has joined the
company as the Head of Literacy Strategy. As Lovevery
continues its commitment to provide unmatched offerings, both
physical and digital, within the literacy space, Spencer will play
a critical role.
"Lovevery and I share a common belief: Learning to read changes
children's lives for the better," said Spencer Russell, Lovevery Head of Literacy
Strategy. "Together, we'll be able to equip even more parents
and caregivers to better support their kids' reading journey—and
make a significant impact in the fight against illiteracy along the
way."
In celebration of Lovevery's Reading Skill Set Launch, the
company is partnering with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), a
nonprofit organization which shares Lovevery's passion for
instilling a life-long love of reading, especially through elements
of play. For every purchase of The Reading Skill Set, Lovevery will
donate a book to RIF. Through this partnership, Lovevery will
directly reach thousands of children in communities across the
country, aiming to support early literacy development and foster a
love of reading.
The Reading Skill Set is sold on Lovevery.com for
$155 per part or $420 for the complete 3 part program. Visit
lovevery.com/reading to learn more.
ABOUT LOVEVERY
Lovevery's comprehensive support system
provides stage-based learning and play for children, and
research-backed guidance that empowers parents with confidence. The
company is best known for its award-winning subscription Play
Kits program. Lovevery was launched in 2017 by Cofounders
Jessica Rolph and Roderick Morris
with the introduction of the company's first product, The Play Gym.
Today, Lovevery serves more than thirty markets worldwide.
Lovevery's global headquarters is in Boise, Idaho USA, with multinational teams
based in Amsterdam and
Hong Kong. To learn more,
visit: lovevery.com.
Media Contact: press@lovevery.com
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SOURCE Lovevery