At the Children’s Literacy Alliance, we empower communities through literacy.
Our Community Literacy Builders program offers free, hands-on workshops that improve reading, writing, and communication skills for children and adults across the United States — especially in underserved neighborhoods. Using step-by-step, illustrated materials, we make learning accessible, engaging, and effective for all ages.
I have personally experienced and am enjoying the benefits of the “Ollie the Elephant” Functional Literacy Program. Even as a fluent English language speaker, I find that I have more clarity in speaking and understanding English. I am amazed to see my personal satisfaction in knowing that I understand the twelve meanings of the word “in”.
In 1985, I was the school principal of Commonwealth Avenue Elementary School, in Los Angeles, California, a Kindergarten-Fifth Grade, multi-track, year-round school, with a student population of mainly Hispanic, non-English speaking students from other countries such as Nicaragua, Guatemala, etc. We had thirteen Kindergartens and bused out many of our approximately 1000 students on a daily basis.
Commonwealth Avenue School won the California Distinguished School Award in 1985 for the Third Grade achievement of improvement in reading. It was a highly prestigious award, rarely won by an inner-city school, later to be the “second flashpoint” of the LA/Rodney King Riots. The description of this award was: “The most exemplary and inspiring public school, established by the California Department of Education in 1985 and recognizes schools that demonstrate exemplary achievement.”
To win this award required the time, effort, dedication, and collaboration of all the teachers, parents, students, support staff, and the community, to obtain specific improvement of our third-grade reading scores. In looking back, I am certain that if we had been able to utilize the “Ollie the Elephant” books in our classrooms, we would have been able to win this award much, much faster!
I highly recommend that the Children’s Literacy Alliance be considered as a resource by any group or organization that is sincerely interested in improving reading scores.
— Rosalyn Carlton Spagnola
Childrens Literacy Alliance Inc is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, as recognized by the IRS, and also classified as a 509(a)(2) public charity. Donations to our organization are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We deeply appreciate your generosity and encourage you to consult with your tax advisor to understand the specific deductibility of your contribution.