Apply to Host a Fall Reading Program
Organizations interested in bringing a free family engagement and reading program to their community are invited to apply to host a Prime Time reading program in the fall.
Applications will be accepted from organizations throughout Louisiana until April 17.
The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities’ Prime Time reading programs are designed to promote both literacy and family engagement. Each session begins with a storyteller reading a carefully chosen, award-winning children’s book. Families are then engaged in discussion around the themes found in the book. Preschool programs also involve age-appropriate hands-on activities. Organizations can choose to host a Prime Time Family Reading program for families with children ages 6 to 10 or a Prime Time Preschool Reading program for families with children ages 3 to 5.
Organizations whose applications are approved will host the 90-minute sessions once a week for six weeks. Prime Time programs take place at no cost to host organizations or participating families. Each partner site will receive a $1,000 site support stipend and a set of the children’s books used during the program, and participating families will keep all books for their personal home libraries.
Prime Time accepts applications from community organizations such as schools, libraries, museums, service organizations, and other community-based agencies that possess a valid EIN#. Training for selected programs will be provided in July.
Prime Time’s fall programs are made possible by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Shell, Entergy Charitable Foundation, , the Grayson Foundation, Citgo, and the Zemurray Foundation.
For questions about Prime Time reading programs, email [email protected].
Prime Time Box Applications Now Open
Prime Time is seeking partner organizations to help get boxes of books and learning supplies into the hands of 700 Louisiana families.
Prime Time Boxes, an initiative of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH), are modeled after the award-winning Prime Time family engagement and literacy programs currently taking place across Louisiana. Prime Time programs focus on humanities-based content, quality children’s literature, open-ended questioning techniques, collective learning strategies, and a respect of diverse perspectives.
Prime Time Boxes are designed to be take-home versions of these Prime Time programs. Each box contains a set of books, literacy extension supplies, and a Grown-Up Guide, which serves as a handbook for parents to guide their children through discussion of the important themes found within the books.
“Prime Time Boxes create a valuable and accessible entry point for families, children, and the organizations, libraries, and public schools that work with and for them across the state,” said Shelley Stocker, LEH vice president of education programs. “We are focused on providing high-quality children’s books and humanities experiences, while empowering caregivers and building their confidence as their children’s first and primary educators.”
Prime Time partners with nonprofit organizations, such as schools, libraries, and community service organizations which serve as distribution hubs to get the boxes into the hands of local families. The boxes are free for organizations and for the families who receive them. Thanks to support from the Community Foundation of North Louisiana, Prime Time will distribute 200 boxes to families in North Louisiana. Another 500 boxes will be distributed throughout the rest of the state, thanks to support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Organizations interested in applying to distribute boxes can do so online. The deadline to apply is March 3.
Selected organizations will distribute boxes containing books in the Prime Time Of, By, and For the People series, which seeks to deepen families’ engagement with the principles of American democracy. The books in the series, such as “We Came to America” by Faith Ringgold and “Grace for President” by Kelly DiPucchio and LeUyen Pham, discuss topics surrounding citizenship, voting, democratic participation, and civic responsibility. Using children’s books as a jumping off point, Prime Time invites families to engage in the humanities and inspires the budding humanists in our state’s youngest citizens.
Prime Time Reading Programs Coming to 18 Parishes
Families in 18 parishes will have the opportunity to participate in programs that promote literacy and family bonding this spring through a Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities’ Prime Time reading program.
Prime Time Family Reading, for ages 6-10, and Prime Time Preschool Reading, for ages 3-5, bring families together one night a week for six weeks for reading and discussion. A storyteller reads an award-winning children’s book and families are then guided through discussion of the themes found in the book. The discussion encourages families to personally connect with literature and each other and think beyond shallow considerations of who, what, when, and where by using open-ended questioning to spur discussion. For Preschool Reading, hands-on activities are incorporated to keep younger children engaged.
More than 30 programs will take place across Louisiana beginning in February. Families can find a Prime Time reading program in their community by visiting our program map.
“The joy of participating in Prime Time permeates through the communities where programs are offered. Starting with the families who are directly engaged and the schools, libraries, and community organizations that host them, children and adults share their enjoyment of and enthusiasm for reading with all,” said Shelley Stocker, LEH vice president of education programs. “We are looking forward to all the ways Prime Time’s unique and humanities-focused programs will enrich the families, educators, and communities where they are hosted in spring 2023.”
In addition to its traditional reading programs, Prime Time will also be partnering with 826 New Orleans to pilot All About Me at two sites. Through All About Me, families will support their 3- to 5-year-old children in writing and sharing about themselves — their names, likes, families, routines, and the things that make them happy. After reading and talking about six carefully-selected picture books, participating families will create and publish engaging texts, furthering the Prime Time mission by creating a strong foundation not only for young readers but for young writers as well.
“We are excited to add this writing component to our traditional Prime Time reading programs and cannot wait to read the stories produced by these young authors,” said Miranda Restovic, president and executive director of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and Prime Time, Inc. “Writing and reading are skills that are intertwined. Being able to promote both during a Prime Time program is another way for us to help set a strong foundation for these important literacy building blocks.”
Prime Time programs are free for families and the partner organizations throughout the state that host them. Families also get to keep the books from the sessions to help build their home libraries. Prime Time’s spring reading programs are sponsored by CITGO, Cleco Foundation, Entergy, Grayson Foundation, Shell Foundation, the State of Louisiana, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
A Little Fright Can Be All Right: Children’s Books for the ‘Spooky Season’
It’s the scariest time of the year! And we’re not just saying that because of the proliferation of pumpkin spice everywhere. It’s Halloween time! And the scary books are out in droves.
Given the enduring popularity of such book series as R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” and “Fear Street” and, more recently, “Last Kids on Earth” and Neil Gaiman’s works for children such as “Coraline” one shouldn’t be surprised to find many voices in support of scary kids’ literature.
Why should any kid be interested in scaring the candy corn out of themselves? Well, the “why” may not be as big a point as the fact that they do want to scare themselves. The scary subgenre of children’s literature has been steadily popular, especially in recent decades.
One advantage to books over other media is the ability to control how one intakes the story. According to British illustrator, Curtis Jobling: “Unlike movie frights, which can feel all-encompassing and leave a mark on young viewers long after the last scene, book scares are easier to manage. A book won’t chase you. It won’t leap out and make you jump. Tasting terror from within the confines of a book provides the reader with a vicarious thrill, one which they’re in complete control of.”
According to Cavan Scott, author of “Attack of the Necron,” one thing going for the stories is teamwork. “Kids reading the series will understand a little bit more about the importance of working together to find solutions for seemingly insurmountable problems, or how to dig deep to find the courage to get through something that usually makes their palms go clammy.”
And as with many stories for kids, there is often a lesson to be learned. “(A lady) told me how much she had loved “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe,” but how the White Witch had given her nightmares. The funny thing was that as she described the bad dreams, she smiled, and then explained how she’d learned about the dangers of going with strangers from Edmund’s experiences with the Witch,” author Cavan Scott said.
There is much to be mined from these stories, and much truth to be shared through them. So pick up a scary book with your kid this Halloween season. We could all use a good fright.
Books about Being Scared and Bravery
New Orleans Pelicans Distribute Prime Time Boxes of Books
The New Orleans Pelicans and Shell teamed up to distribute Prime Time Boxes at Grand Caillou Elementary School.
During the event, Pelicans mascot Pierre and the Pelicans Hype Team handed out boxes to preschool students. Grand Caillou Elementary School, located in Houma, was heavily damaged during Hurricane Ida last year and the school is still operating out of a temporary campus.
Students receiving Prime Time Boxes got a box filled with books to help build their families’ home libraries, additional learning supplies, and a Grown-Up Guide for caregivers that provides support for discussion and activities for at-home implementation of Prime Time’s humanities-centered methodology.
Visit the New Orleans Pelicans website for more photos from the event.
Community Groups Invited to Bring Free Reading Programs to Families
Community groups have a free opportunity to join Louisiana’s literacy effort by hosting a Prime Time reading program in Spring 2023.
Applications will be accepted online until Oct. 17 for organizations that would like to host either Prime Time Family Reading, for ages 6-10, or Prime Time Preschool Reading, for ages 3-5.
Eligible organizations include schools, libraries, museums, churches and other community-based agencies that possess a valid EIN#. Prime Time, a program of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, offers families a chance to come together to share a meal, read, and discuss the important themes often found in children’s books.
Organizations whose applications are approved will host the 90-minute sessions once a week for six weeks. Prime Time programs take place at no cost to host organizations or participating families. Each partner site will receive a $1,000 site support stipend and a set of the children’s books used during the program, and participating families keep all books for their personal home libraries.
Training in program operation and the Prime Time method of using open-ended questions to spur meaningful discussion will be provided in January.
For more information about Prime Time reading programs, visit www.primetimefamily.org or email [email protected].
Prime Time Returns in Person for Fall
Families across Louisiana will have the opportunity to once again gather in person for story-sharing, family discussion and shared meals as part of Prime Time’s high-quality family literacy and engagement programs this fall.
More than 50 Prime Time Family Reading and Prime Time Preschool Reading programs will take place in 21 parishes across the state, and nearly all will return to in-person programs for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Prime Time programs are about connections – with each other, our families and our communities,” said Miranda Restovic, president and executive director of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and Prime Time, Inc. “When these discussions take place in person those connections are deepened, as are the conversations that take place around the important humanities themes found in the books that are part of Prime Time programs.”
A program of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH), Prime Time programs involve story-sharing around an award-winning children’s book during a weekly session that takes place for six weeks at libraries, schools, churches, community centers and other local sites. Prime Time Family Reading, for ages 6-10, and Prime Time Preschool Reading, for ages 3-5, encourage families to personally connect with literature and each other and think beyond surface considerations of who, what, when, and where – by using open-ended questioning that spurs and encourages rich discussion across generations. For Preschool Reading, hands-on activities are incorporated to keep younger children engaged.
Prime Time programs are free for families and the partner organizations throughout the state that host them. Families also get to keep the books from the sessions to help build their home libraries. Prime Time’s fall reading programs are sponsored by the Beaird Family Foundation, BHP, Entergy Charitable Foundation, Grayson Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, Shell USA and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
In addition to Louisiana sites, Prime Time reading programs are hosted by state humanities councils throughout the United States. This fall, 10 states will host Prime Time reading programs.
“Fall is always an important season in the lives of children and families. Back to school means that the calendar begins again and with it the excitement of possibilities, connection with new and old friends, and exploring new learning challenges,” said Shelly Stocker, LEH vice president of education programs. “This fall, we are deeply grateful to be able to again ensure that family engagement around amazing literature is an easily accessible component of the lives of Louisiana families and beyond.”
Prime Time Pops initiative encourages male role models
Fathers, grandfathers, uncles and other male role models play an important part in the early development and long-term well-being of young children. With that in mind, Prime Time Head Start is launching a new initiative called Prime Time Pops.
Prime Time Pops will involve fathers, grandfathers, community leaders, Prime Time policy council members, Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities board members and other male role models in activities at Prime Time Head Start centers throughout the upcoming school year. They will also help bridge the gap while our Head Start programming is closed for the summer.
Throughout the summer break, Prime Time Head Start will be sharing Reading with Prime Time Pops videos on the Prime Time YouTube channel. This weekly video series will feature our “Pops” reading preschool-appropriate books, and combines Prime Time’s goals of promoting family engagement and literacy.
Prime Time Revives Historic Campus with New Head Start Center
Prime Time Head Start officially welcomed students, caregivers and the entire community to its newest Head Start center on April 8.
Prime Time Head Start on the former Immaculate Heart of Mary campus in Lafayette began offering classes in February. It marked the return to use of a historic community institution. The campus can serve more than 200 students.
A program of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, Prime Time Head Start was selected by the Office of Head Start to provide Early Head Start and Head Start services within Lafayette and Iberia Parishes in October of 2020. Prime Time is federally funded in Acadiana to serve up to 747 children between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years old, as well as expectant mothers. Prime Time Head Start and Early Head Start centers now serve Acadiana families at four locations, with two in Lafayette, one in Jeanerette and one in New Iberia.
Prime Time’s free preschool program uses humanities-based learning to help children build basic skills, develop a love of literacy and hone critical-thinking abilities to set the foundation for lifelong learning while also providing support and services to the entire family. Prime Time also operates Head Start centers in Ouachita Parish, as well as award-winning family reading programs statewide.
Prime Time Cuts Ribbon on Head Start Center in Jeanerette
Prime Time Head Start officially marked the opening of Prime Time Head Start and Early Head Start in Jeanerette on April 7.
Students started attending classes on the campus, which is located at the former Jeanerette Elementary School, at the beginning of the school year.
A program of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, Prime Time Head Start was selected by the Office of Head Start to provide Early Head Start and Head Start services within Lafayette and Iberia Parishes in October of 2020. Prime Time is federally funded in Acadiana to serve up to 747 children between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years old, as well as expectant mothers. Prime Time Head Start and Early Head Start centers now serve Acadiana families at four locations, with two in Lafayette, one in Jeanerette and one in New Iberia.
Prime Time’s free preschool program uses humanities-based learning to help children build basic skills, develop a love of literacy and hone critical-thinking abilities to set the foundation for lifelong learning while also providing support and services to the entire family. Prime Time also operates Head Start centers in Ouachita Parish, as well as award-winning family reading programs statewide.
