A student’s ability to read on grade level by the end of 4th grade is a key indicator of future success in school and in life. According to statistics, the ratio of books to children in low-income neighborhoods is one to 300, compared with one to 13 in middle-income areas. Reading is important to a child’s development because it builds literacy and language skills that help prepare them for kindergarten. A child that struggles to read, will struggle to learn. Whereas, children who have developed strong reading skills perform better in school and have a healthier self image.
Our Approach
Cultivate a love for reading through our Russell’s Reading Room literacy initiative.
The Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation has successfully opened 26 reading rooms in Oklahoma City and 13 in Los Angeles. Each room is filled with 1,200 books. We believe our Reading Room’s help create a safe learning environment and provide the vision, guidance and support that children need to empower themselves and others. In partnership with Scholastic, Russell’s Reading Challenge initiative is part of Scholastic’s national Read 100,000 Challenge program that encourages students to read and log 100,000 minutes as part of a school team.
Russell’s Reading Room are in the following schools in OKC & LA:
IUSD – INGLEWOOD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
CUSD – COMPTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
LAUSD – LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
OKCPS – OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS