Leader 2 Leader Blog

From Striving to Thriving: How All Kids Can Develop Strong Reading Skills with the Right Support

By Maya Brown, Literacy Content Development Manager at the UF Lastinger Center

New Worlds Reading[1]  is Florida’s free program that mails eligible VPK - 5th graders 9 free books with reading activities each school year to help boost their literacy skills. We often get asked questions about how we help families – so today, I’d like to pull back the curtain to talk about the ways New Worlds Reading can impact your students.

How does mailing books support striving readers?

            When a skill is challenging, some kids are quick to decide they dislike it and then avoid it. We try to make reading a fun, exciting experience for kids instead of an overwhelming chore to spark a lifelong love of books. 92% of kids are more likely to finish a book that they pick out themselves (Scholastic, 2023), so we let kids choose which books they want to read based on their interests (and include different formats – whether chapter books or comic books, reading is reading!).

Packages are addressed to the child directly, so they feel grown up as they check the mail for their very own delivery that they chose. Many of our enrolled families share that their children eagerly await the mail each month–and, when the book arrives, immediately want to read it!

All of our offered books are aligned with Florida B.E.S.T. standards and selected in collaboration with the Florida Department of Education. Families can personalize their experience even further by choosing which language they’d like to receive books in: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, or braille.

But what else does New Worlds Reading do?

            Access to books is only one part of the equation. As New Worlds Reading’s Literacy Content Development Manager, I work alongside a team dedicated to empowering families through high-quality literacy resources. Each book delivery includes engaging and interactive activities that help kids practice their phonological awareness, build vocabulary, improve their reading comprehension, and more.

Our materials aren’t only for kids, either: we offer caregivers resources like reading guides and videos that are grounded in the science of reading. These materials are written in family-friendly language offered in short, digestible formats to meet caregivers’ needs. By giving families free, easily accessible research-based materials, we empower them to have meaningful interactions about reading that offer sustainable success.

We’re not just in families’ mailboxes – our engagement specialists and regional partners connect with families in person around the state! From fun literacy nights and reading activities to caregiver workshops that teach strategies grounded in the science of reading for at-home use, our team is making a difference for real families in our communities.

How do you know that this program actually helps families?

Our data team evaluates student performance each year using standardized reading testing data provided by the Department of Education. Based on these data,  students enrolled in New Worlds Reading grow at a faster rate than students who are eligible for the program but who have not enrolled.

Additionally, New Worlds Reading families report that they see results at home. 89% of surveyed families say their kids are more confident in reading or looking at books, and 85% of surveyed caregivers say they feel more confident in reading with their children.

How can schools, districts, and communities get involved with New Worlds Reading?

We can’t do our work alone! We’re incredibly grateful for the hard work and partnership we’ve experienced with district administrators, school administrators, educators, community organizations, and more all across Florida.

The more families know about New Worlds Reading, the more students can receive free books and literacy resources. We need administrators and educators’ help to reach Florida’s families and nearly 1 million eligible children. Here are three ways you can help New Worlds Reading today:

1. Tell your educators about New Worlds Reading. Data indicates that New Worlds Reading students show measurable progress in reading based on state assessments when compared with eligible unenrolled students. This is a resource proven to benefit their students – encourage them to share the program during parent-teacher conferences or at back-to-school nights!
2. Make it easy for families to apply. Post flyers with QR codes around the school so parents can quickly access the application and apply for their children. We mail flyers to schools each fall and spring; if you need more flyers, email new.worlds@coe.ufl.edu.
3. Invite our team to your school. Our engagement team serves the entire state and can host literacy nights or attend school events to spread the word. Request an event with our engagement team here.[2] 

Families who apply for eligible kids by June 9, 2025, will receive ALL 9 FREE BOOKS and activities for this school year, plus 3 bonus books for summer reading!

Reference

Scholastic Research & Validation. (2023). Scholastic Home Libraries Topic Paper. New York: Scholastic