“When we share our stories, what it does is, it opens up our hearts for other people to share their stories. And it gives us the sense that we are not alone on this journey.” -Janine Shepherd This week is Banned Books Week, and as a nonprofit that puts books in the hands of some... Continue Reading →
Many DIBS supporters might not know how much this program was originally inspired by teachers. Really just one teacher, actually. This post is a small tribute to that very teacher who retires later this month after a twenty-year career as a kindergarten teacher in one of Omaha’s highest-poverty schools. That teacher is probably best known... Continue Reading →
Building reading habits is essential for students to gain knowledge and improve academic performance. But many kids already do a lot of reading at school, and some students can get turned off from it if it’s too forced. ...And once children lose their interest in reading, it can be hard to get them back. Books... Continue Reading →
They say that knowledge is power. In our changing world, with more and more information to locate, sift through, and evaluate it can be overwhelming to determine how to best support our child(ren)’s development. Fortunately, there is not a one-size fits all approach when it comes to the best way of supporting early literacy. Research... Continue Reading →
My favorite book series growing up was Junie B. Jones. I shared her iconic hairstyle until I was probably 10 and told my mom bangs were no longer cool. She was such a personality – crazy and sassy but also friendly and caring. Every time I opened one of her stories I felt I was... Continue Reading →
Winter (Break) Is Coming. Which means that for many kiddos, focusing on the festive sights and sounds surrounding them just before the holidays can serve as a distraction to their learning, which oftentimes is left behind over break. A great way to keep the little ones ready for that first day back is to make... Continue Reading →
As groups assess the damage and determine what they need, we may need to be patient. Like many of you out there, our team has been feeling the heartbreak the city of Houston and surrounding areas are experiencing right now, and wondering if there's anything we can do to help those areas pull things back... Continue Reading →
Hi there, I’m Gina. As an Omaha professional, mother, and dedicated volunteer to literacy efforts, I’ve spent the past several years championing literacy through the Literacy Center, which is focused on building literacy skills for adults. I recently started working with DIBS, so you’ll be hearing more from me later on.
In the late 1800s, Joseph Malins, an English activist, wrote a poem about a cliff, a fence and an ambulance. The gist: There's a cliff that's very pleasant to walk on, so many people in the town nearby venture close to its edge. Some slip and fall into the valley below, and the town decides something has to be done.
Picture two 1st grade students. Their classroom is filled with books that line several different book shelves, which they will pick out and read independently. They spend the day going over sentence structures, they take a spelling test, they visit the library. Essentially, between 8:50 AM and 4:05 PM, both students had the same opportunities... Continue Reading →
DELIVERING INFINITE BOOK SHELVES 