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Speedway Kindergarteners Take Advantage of IMCPL Resources to Develop Essential Reading Skills

When kindergarten teacher Marc Van Duzer registered his pre-kindergarteners for the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library's Summer Reading Program last summer, it was the beginning of what he sees as their lifelong love affair with reading.

Not only have 15 of his 29 kindergarteners received their own library cards this year, but nearly all of Van Duzer's students have shown marked improvement in their reading abilities.

As one of four preschool and kindergarten teachers at the Speedway United Methodist Child Care Ministry, located at 5011 W. 16th Street, Van Duzer integrates books and other IMCPL resources into his classroom activities.

"Among the improvements is their ability to comprehend the books they read," said Van Duzer, who finds that the five and six-year-olds are more able to read punctuations properly. "I have also noticed many of our students have become more confident when reading in front of the class," he added.

Van Duzer credits the staff of the nearby Wayne Branch of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, located at 198 S. Girls School Road, for their personalized approach in making resources available.

"They have been very helpful. I can't say enough for the Library's step-by-step help to put all of this together," Van Duzer said.

The school's experience corresponds with IMCPL's renewed emphasis on developing literacy skills among younger children. It's a need that educators agree is more important than ever before.

"Children need to begin learning as early as possible in order to gain an advantage later in their schooling," according to Van Duzer. "Even though many children are exposed to computer technology, they need the ability to read in order to fully appreciate these technologies," he added.

On a regular basis, Van Duzer visits the Wayne Branch to choose age appropriate materials to read to his class. Library materials are used also by older children who occasionally visit to read to the preschoolers and kindergarteners. Storytimes often become quite animated, as evidenced when Van Duzer reads the classic, The Three Little Pigs.

"I'll read the line, '…and I'll huff and I'll puff,' all the kids yell, 'and I'll blow your house down!' The kids love it, and quite honestly I love it, too."

Having their own library cards is a real advantage to the children, says Van Duzer, who provides library card applications for the children to take home and have their parents sign. The library cards allow children to visit the Library and get books themselves.

"Kids want to learn to read. They want to read stories themselves, and I'm more than happy to help them," Van Duzer said.

With additional funding, the Library will be able to expand its outreach to these early learners, helping even more children develop a solid educational foundation.