During this month the SMART program opened in 100’s of schools throughout Oregon with 11 new schools being added this year.  I have been a SMART reader off and on for the past many years and last week I started again at Jefferson School in SW Medford Oregon.  Years ago they were able to pay their Site Coordinators but with all the budget cuts and especially for non-profits, all Site Coordinators like the readers are volunteer.  This year I have a kindergartener and a first grader.  Unfortunately, both were out sick (the flu is everywhere) but I asked to have substitute kids - both boys.  They had no idea what was happening to them but when we went to the SMART book room and they were able to pick out 3 or 4 books to read or be read to, they started to get excited.  We went into the library and found a cozy spot to sit and their personalities began to emerge as we looked at books on dinsaurs, animals and construction trucks. 

Every week for seven months, volunteers read aloud with kids to help them gain confidence in their reading ability. Educators agree this helps reinforce reading and language skills learned in the classroom. It is proven that children who participated in SMART are 60 percent more likely to reach state reading benchmarks. 

Many children simply do not have the support at home or have books at home to read.  The SMART program is set up to encourage kids to be excited about reading and to read outside the classroom.  To encourage reading outside the classroom, SMART  gives each child 14 new take-home books—two per month during the course of the program.  Research shows that if kids don’t know how to read by third grade, they will have a hard time learning.  My personal feeling is that if kids don’t read they never know what possibilities are out there for them.  For more information go to www.getsmartoregon.org. It will list all the schools involved in the program including Medford, Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Central Point, Sams Vallely, Applegate, Ruch, and Rogue River.  Volunteers are greatly needed. 

6 November 2009 - More than 2,000 Oregon CEOs were asked their opinions on the greatest companies in Oregon. SMART was selected as a “top ten” Most Admired Nonprofit.