200 00:41:29.410 --> 00:41:46.170 Bobbi deMontigny: Charlie Lou serves as President for the 1,000 books. Foundation, a nonprofit, 501 c. 3 public charity which operates the nationwide 1,000 books before kindergarten, early literacy challenge. 201 00:41:47.230 --> 00:41:56.390 Bobbi deMontigny: Since 2013, over 1 million families have accepted the challenge to read 1,000 books to their children right before kindergarten. Welcome, Charlie. 202 00:41:56.660 --> 00:41:57.630 Luh, Charlie: All right. 203 00:41:57.750 --> 00:42:08.910 Luh, Charlie: Thank you for having me, Bobby. I really appreciate this opportunity to talk to you. It's a good change from having to go before judges on zoom. So this is nice. 204 00:42:09.464 --> 00:42:31.429 Luh, Charlie: I'm gonna just share my screen. I did email my presentation to you for distribution to everybody. I hope you got that, and you were able to get that out to everybody. Sometimes I am able to monitor chat during the presentation, but if I don't see something Bobby just alert me, and I could address it then, alright. 205 00:42:31.430 --> 00:42:38.320 Bobbi deMontigny: Right. I'll watch the chat, and also as far as the slides. That is all going out in a packet after. But. 206 00:42:38.320 --> 00:42:39.100 Luh, Charlie: Okay. Great. 207 00:42:39.100 --> 00:42:39.950 Bobbi deMontigny: Thank you. 208 00:42:39.950 --> 00:42:43.889 Luh, Charlie: So I just sent the request to be able to share my screen to you. 209 00:42:46.110 --> 00:42:47.699 Luh, Charlie: Did you get my request? 210 00:42:50.320 --> 00:42:53.880 Luh, Charlie: Oh, okay, now I got it our 211 00:42:58.010 --> 00:43:05.040 Luh, Charlie: alright. So if this is working right, this is my presentation. 212 00:43:07.500 --> 00:43:11.380 Luh, Charlie: Well, yeah, it's easier to see it as kind of like a Pdf. 213 00:43:11.909 --> 00:43:16.940 Luh, Charlie: but basically, today, I'm going to be covering the what, the why and how. 214 00:43:17.330 --> 00:43:22.809 Luh, Charlie: 1st I'd like to just briefly talk about what is 1,000 books before kindergarten. 215 00:43:23.230 --> 00:43:32.610 Luh, Charlie: 1,000 books before kindergarten is a early literacy program that I've been a part of since 2,013. 216 00:43:32.880 --> 00:43:39.920 Luh, Charlie: It's sometimes known as an incentive based program. I'll get into that a little bit later. 217 00:43:40.440 --> 00:43:52.980 Luh, Charlie: But the concept of 1,000 books before kindergarten is very straightforward. You need to read at least 1,000 books to your child before he or she starts kindergarten. 218 00:43:53.230 --> 00:43:57.300 Luh, Charlie: This is intended as a self-paced program. 219 00:43:57.500 --> 00:44:08.630 Luh, Charlie: and one of the real reasons why I got involved. The true reasons or purpose behind the program is, it's a way of promoting parent-child bonding through reading. 220 00:44:08.670 --> 00:44:30.890 Luh, Charlie: So that's like the secret secret reason why the program or my involvement came about. Here's an email address contact at 1,000 books before kindergarten. I'm sorry. Contact at 1,000 booksfoundation.org. If you have any questions, me or someone else would be more than happy to answer them for you. 221 00:44:31.830 --> 00:44:37.560 Luh, Charlie: So 1,000 books before kindergarten, it's gained nationwide acceptance. Now 222 00:44:37.860 --> 00:45:01.620 Luh, Charlie: we're pretty much in 10,000 libraries nationwide. We've moved into Canada as well. We have a free most of the materials that we do have for the 1,000 books before kindergarten program are, in fact, free. We do have what's called a book tracking app, where parents are able to log the reading that they've accomplished for their children. 223 00:45:01.640 --> 00:45:20.279 Luh, Charlie: our biggest users of the app I have these statistics pulled up pretty much every time is Finley, Ohio. You can see we've gone into Santa Clara, California, Indiana, Texas, Utah, Utah, Ohio, Beverly Hills 9, 0 2, 1 0. 224 00:45:20.500 --> 00:45:28.739 Luh, Charlie: If you guys remember that TV show Ross Township, Pennsylvania, Utah again, New Jersey. So we're in pretty much 225 00:45:29.590 --> 00:45:31.659 Luh, Charlie: a lot of the States. 226 00:45:32.550 --> 00:45:35.831 Luh, Charlie: And I I will say this, too. 227 00:45:36.600 --> 00:45:48.760 Luh, Charlie: we're very fortunate that almost on a daily basis. We get media coverage. If you just type in 1,000 books before kinder kindergarten into Google News, you'll see, like daily. 228 00:45:49.260 --> 00:46:00.560 Luh, Charlie: pretty much daily or weekly coverage about the program. So if you and your library system do decide to take part in it, you're joining a great team of other educators. 229 00:46:00.920 --> 00:46:14.599 Luh, Charlie: And I did have my computer people check into the State of Montana as well. And we do have some particip. We do have some participation from your State, which is greatly appreciated. Our biggest 230 00:46:14.710 --> 00:46:17.910 Luh, Charlie: zip code is 5, 9, 0 4, 7, 231 00:46:18.010 --> 00:46:36.919 Luh, Charlie: 5, 9, 0 4 7. That's Livingston, Montana, according to Google. So I don't know if there's any librarians online from that area, but if you are, we would definitely like to give you some free prizes for promoting the program without needing to attend 232 00:46:37.250 --> 00:46:39.590 Luh, Charlie: this zoom. 233 00:46:39.990 --> 00:46:46.830 Luh, Charlie: I guess it's a webinar. So just let us know if you if you are in that zip code, and there's also been. 234 00:46:47.370 --> 00:47:02.129 Luh, Charlie: If you're from the Billings Public Library, too, we'd be more than happy to send you out some T-shirts or some journals as well, to help complement your program. We we do really appreciate everybody that helps 235 00:47:02.690 --> 00:47:07.560 Luh, Charlie: in promoting a thousand books before kindergarten really means a lot to us. 236 00:47:09.060 --> 00:47:16.139 Luh, Charlie: And I think the next step I usually talk about is the why before why, 1,000 books before kindergarten. 237 00:47:16.320 --> 00:47:20.019 Luh, Charlie: And it's basically there's been numerous studies that have shown 238 00:47:20.230 --> 00:47:33.169 Luh, Charlie: that one in 5. Children have difficulties. Learning how to read, and reading aloud has has long been associated with inner as an early indicator of academic success. 239 00:47:34.150 --> 00:47:47.360 Luh, Charlie: and from a society perspective. Public formal education typically doesn't start until you're 5 or 6 years old. So there's that critical period, 0 to 5 where they're 240 00:47:47.600 --> 00:48:00.019 Luh, Charlie: not where kids are not yet in public school. And then what's what's what's happening is, educators are finding that kids are not properly prepared when they do make it to kindergarten. 241 00:48:00.290 --> 00:48:15.819 Luh, Charlie: There's a lot of research, too, that supports the program or not. Just the 1,000 books before kindergarten early literacy program, but just reading to children before or at when they're of a young age. It kind of coincides 242 00:48:16.486 --> 00:48:23.219 Luh, Charlie: to when I got involved. I've been involved with a thousand books before kindergarten movements since 2,013. 243 00:48:23.320 --> 00:48:38.760 Luh, Charlie: In June of 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued their 1st ever policy statement that says, you need that promoted reading aloud to their children or to children on a daily basis. 244 00:48:38.850 --> 00:49:08.789 Luh, Charlie: And we have all the books we have, all the sites in the handout that we've prepared, and everything is on our website as well believe it or not, we do get a lot of queries from parents, even educators and partner nonprofits like, well, why do we even want to have a thousand books before kindergarten? So there's a lot of there's a lot of scientific research that backs the importance of reading to your 2 kids when they're still young. 245 00:49:09.180 --> 00:49:26.579 Luh, Charlie: There's also been a study from I don't know if you're familiar with Jessica Logan, she called it the 1 million word Gap. She's a researcher at Ohio State. I won't hold that against her because I went to University of Iowa. But it basically says 246 00:49:27.180 --> 00:49:35.060 Luh, Charlie: young children whose parents read them 5 books a day, enter kindergarten, having heard about 1.4 more 247 00:49:35.820 --> 00:49:43.489 Luh, Charlie: 1 million words than kids who were never read to, and that's her study, and she's she coined it. The 1 million word gap. 248 00:49:43.880 --> 00:49:46.350 Luh, Charlie: So even kids who are red 249 00:49:46.480 --> 00:50:03.480 Luh, Charlie: allowed only one book a day will hear about 290 more 1,000 words by the age of 5 than those who are not regularly read to. So this is one of the gap. One of the things that 1,000 books before kindergarten aims to address. 250 00:50:06.450 --> 00:50:09.631 Luh, Charlie: And there's the site. It's it's all the sites. If 251 00:50:10.210 --> 00:50:22.810 Luh, Charlie: if you're not, if you know I I attend a lot of zoom seminars, presentations. If you, if you're not able to follow along with what I'm saying right now, just review the literature that 252 00:50:23.140 --> 00:50:25.140 Luh, Charlie: has been provided to you. 253 00:50:27.020 --> 00:50:52.640 Luh, Charlie: and then there's also been another interesting study, and this is kind of for the parents and caregivers, which is pretty cool. When I came across it, it basically discovered or concluded that people who regularly read with their kids are less likely to engage in harsh parenting methods. This was the Rutgers study 254 00:50:52.790 --> 00:50:58.619 Luh, Charlie: Robert the Rug, the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School had that study. 255 00:50:58.780 --> 00:51:04.080 Luh, Charlie: And so it's kind of interesting. I guess if you read to kids, you're more gentle. 256 00:51:04.220 --> 00:51:12.280 Luh, Charlie: and your parenting skills will be softer. So that's another good reason why we have the program or we promote it a lot. 257 00:51:13.710 --> 00:51:23.989 Luh, Charlie: And I just like to briefly talk about the 1,000 books foundation itself. Okay, as Bobby indicated, we are a nonprofit public charity. 258 00:51:24.360 --> 00:51:50.570 Luh, Charlie: And the one thing that I try to stress is everyone associated with the 1,000 Book Foundation. We're all nonpaid volunteers. Okay, we've done this because we we really want to try to make a difference and help out people and their children in their journey on eventually learning how to read. I say this because we receive 259 00:51:51.510 --> 00:51:54.300 Luh, Charlie: daily. You know, thou maybe 260 00:51:55.200 --> 00:52:03.689 Luh, Charlie: we receive daily emails about the program. I did mention that we released an app a lot of times. There are. There may be some. 261 00:52:04.160 --> 00:52:23.089 Luh, Charlie: There are some flaws with the app. I'm the 1st one to admit it. But at the same time, you know, when people criticize it or say, like, it's worthless, you know. Stop the program. It really doesn't do any benefit. The emails just going to a volunteer who sometimes wonders 262 00:52:23.340 --> 00:52:40.740 Luh, Charlie: why they do it. So I just wanted to say that briefly, in case you've in case you've ever tried to reach out to the 1,000 Books Foundation. And we haven't responded. We all do have day jobs that we do get to. And we just like to continue to promote the reading program as well. 263 00:52:41.920 --> 00:53:11.880 Luh, Charlie: Now I want to talk to you, and it's going at a pretty good pace. But there are a lot of benefits for the libraries and other nonprofits that carry the program. From what we have pretty much a lot of the debt, the data is trackable these days, which is kind of neat kind of scary. At the same time, there's a lot of things that I didn't realize when I got involved with the program. But whenever you need to justify 264 00:53:12.100 --> 00:53:21.940 Luh, Charlie: figures right, a lot of funding reasons, funding sources, state funding, county funding, city funding they all want. They all want numbers. 265 00:53:22.589 --> 00:53:29.719 Luh, Charlie: But from the feedback that we've gathered is this. There's been a lot of increased library usage 266 00:53:29.890 --> 00:53:35.059 Luh, Charlie: for libraries that adopt the 1,000 books before kindergarten program. 267 00:53:35.240 --> 00:53:49.350 Luh, Charlie: It's trackable in books, checked out attendance at story times and and other metrics. Although we don't readily give out our app statistics because of 268 00:53:49.490 --> 00:53:56.479 Luh, Charlie: child privacy issues the app, the app, and we'll get into the app. Later. 269 00:53:56.880 --> 00:54:15.970 Luh, Charlie: the users of the app could share their data with the individual libraries. But once again, libraries, as you know, you guys have an active role in educating our youngest members of society. There is a great quote from the Wipo Magazine in August of 2012, 270 00:54:16.180 --> 00:54:43.330 Luh, Charlie: and it said, like as gateways to knowledge and cultures. Libraries play a fundamental role in society, the resources and services they offer create opportunities for learning, support, literacy and education and help shape the new ideas and perspectives that are central to a creative and innovative society. So I still feel like libraries are great. I grew up, you know, we I didn't have ipads, or. 271 00:54:43.690 --> 00:54:53.869 Luh, Charlie: you know, other sources of entertainment. So when my father and mother were able to bring me to the library, I always enjoyed it. And I have good memories of always going to the library. 272 00:54:55.080 --> 00:55:05.640 Luh, Charlie: Okay? And now I'm going to talk about the the last. The main last part of the presentation is how to start a 1,000 books before kindergarten, early literacy challenge. 273 00:55:05.830 --> 00:55:13.910 Luh, Charlie: I think the main thing is, you have to determine as a library what are your goals, as I said. 274 00:55:14.080 --> 00:55:38.799 Luh, Charlie: for better or worse, when 1,000 books before kindergarten was started, it was, it was started as an incentive based program. And when I, when I mentioned incentives, I'm talking not large incentives. We support rural libraries as well as large city libraries as well. But what I mean by incentives are. 275 00:55:38.940 --> 00:56:07.679 Luh, Charlie: There are milestone markers typically associated with the program. After a child has read like a hundred books, 200 books, or 300 books there may be like a reward. It could be as easy as a as a sticker, as a pencil or an eraser, and when they complete the 1,000 books challenge. Sometimes some libraries do give out, you know, T-shirts. 276 00:56:08.000 --> 00:56:37.080 Luh, Charlie: Obviously, I feel like none of the incentives are really as important as the parent reading and bonding with their child. But, you know, having been associated with a thousand books before kindergarten now for over 10 years, we've we've received some blowback because some. Some parents are always, you know, this is the part about. I try to remind everybody we're nonpaid volunteers. But you know, we'll get those emails from the parents saying, Hey. 277 00:56:37.260 --> 00:56:44.224 Luh, Charlie: I finished a hundred books the library didn't give me my sticker or my child. 278 00:56:45.020 --> 00:57:10.450 Luh, Charlie: There's her sticker. We're very disappointed in you. It's what did we get? We wasted our time, you know, and typically in the in the past, we just remind our volunteers, you know, to write back politely. You know you did get you did have a hopefully, you had a good time bonding with your child and reading to them, and that's much more important than the sticker 279 00:57:10.710 --> 00:57:15.179 Luh, Charlie: or the the T-shirt, that you may have been promised. So 280 00:57:15.320 --> 00:57:25.040 Luh, Charlie: when, whenever we are able, though, to to appease those parents, we do we do? Try to pull from our funds, and we will try to give everybody a T-shirt. 281 00:57:25.240 --> 00:57:28.197 Luh, Charlie: But but keep in mind the incentives 282 00:57:28.910 --> 00:57:41.659 Luh, Charlie: like, I said. I think about it a lot, you know. Been been a part of it for 10,000 years, a lot of a lot of funding, personal funding, funding that I've been able to raise. 283 00:57:42.330 --> 00:57:43.439 Luh, Charlie: I don't know. 284 00:57:43.770 --> 00:57:46.300 Luh, Charlie: I don't know if incentives were the way to go. 285 00:57:46.750 --> 00:58:03.380 Luh, Charlie: but there are. There are a lot of alternatives to the incentives. And we're going to get into that a little bit later, or maybe right now, but like a big one sometimes is just a simple recognition. We've found that parents like to be recognized for doing what 286 00:58:03.640 --> 00:58:12.683 Luh, Charlie: what they probably should be doing to their for their children. But they have, like a recognition ceremonies, which is a big plus 287 00:58:13.430 --> 00:58:33.450 Luh, Charlie: graduation ceremonies for 1,000 books before kindergarten are great. I usually they're they're really good, too, because they involve a chance for the media to be contacted. Even today. Every every parent pretty much likes to see their child receive recognition in the newspaper. So 288 00:58:33.700 --> 00:58:44.829 Luh, Charlie: I guess what I'm trying to say with respect to that is incentive doesn't have to be like a monetary based. It doesn't have to be large or anything. But that is one thing you should think about when you are 289 00:58:45.510 --> 00:58:57.180 Luh, Charlie: when you are trying to start a thousand books before kindergarten program, there's some budgeting, and there's some. There's some funding restraints that I that I fully recognize as well. 290 00:58:57.843 --> 00:59:04.749 Luh, Charlie: But you could it? It could all be tailored to your budget and to your specific needs. 291 00:59:05.080 --> 00:59:08.339 Luh, Charlie: The one thing I do want to stress, though 292 00:59:09.830 --> 00:59:18.560 Luh, Charlie: there should be no cost. The program is the program should be free to the user. The 1,000 books foundation. 293 00:59:18.590 --> 00:59:41.050 Luh, Charlie: We charge nothing. There's no charge to the libraries to use our trademark. There's nothing special to get the program started. You basically email contact at 1,000 booksfoundation.org. One of the volunteers will send you the complete library turnkey packet which will contain the the stuff that 294 00:59:41.710 --> 00:59:53.970 Luh, Charlie: I'm going to be discussing here today. But we've really tried to make the program accessible to pretty much anybody, because all it really takes is it takes a parent that wants to 295 00:59:54.230 --> 01:00:09.900 Luh, Charlie: bond with their child takes a book, and and that's pretty much it you just read. You could even read the same book. It doesn't. There's no restrictions on what you read. You don't have to read like the Iliad or something. We're talking 5 min picture books. 296 01:00:11.570 --> 01:00:22.189 Luh, Charlie: Okay, so let's talk a little bit more about the implementation of the how currently all the libraries and a few school districts 297 01:00:22.745 --> 01:00:27.489 Luh, Charlie: are implementing the 1,000 books before kindergarten in their own way. 298 01:00:28.400 --> 01:00:40.549 Luh, Charlie: Another popular way or incentive base is having, like wall space. If you're able to commit wall space to the program, parents love being able to put 299 01:00:40.660 --> 01:00:51.810 Luh, Charlie: their child's name on a sticker on a star or something for each milestone that's completed. It's a great photo opportunity. It's a great 300 01:00:52.280 --> 01:00:55.900 Luh, Charlie: memory for the kids and the parents. 301 01:00:56.980 --> 01:01:01.059 Luh, Charlie: And I talked briefly about the initiatives. 302 01:01:01.500 --> 01:01:24.249 Luh, Charlie: stickers, books, book bags, and certificates of achievement. I don't know if you remember back. And if you have kids, one of the 1st tests that new parents always have is the hearing test for the child or their new baby as they bring them home. Well, we like to hope that the Completion certificate for the 1,000 books before kindergarten. 303 01:01:24.280 --> 01:01:31.550 Luh, Charlie: early literacy challenge is one of their 1st framable certificates we do have. We do have a example 304 01:01:31.600 --> 01:01:36.650 Luh, Charlie: that libraries are able to co-brand. It's all in the library turnkey. 305 01:01:36.760 --> 01:01:41.520 Luh, Charlie: turnkey packet you just have to email and you'll get it. 306 01:01:42.300 --> 01:01:49.939 Luh, Charlie: So once again, I want to talk about the you know, the nationwide logo. We have reading logs and reading lists really quick. 307 01:01:50.120 --> 01:01:56.209 Luh, Charlie: the the you do not have to even use our our particular logo. There has been. 308 01:01:59.360 --> 01:02:06.680 Luh, Charlie: There have been many libraries that have chosen to create their own 1,000 books before kindergarten logo 309 01:02:06.790 --> 01:02:09.230 Luh, Charlie: reading logs as well. 310 01:02:09.990 --> 01:02:16.480 Luh, Charlie: What's really interesting about the reading logs I was telling you about, like the parents that reach out to us 311 01:02:17.990 --> 01:02:28.959 Luh, Charlie: when the program was created. We liked the idea of the reading logs because we thought it would serve as a kind of an acute keepsake that you could look back with your child like, Hey, I read. 312 01:02:29.080 --> 01:02:38.300 Luh, Charlie: I read the giving Tree to you. I read, you know, the Dr. Seuss series of books, etc. But then we were getting some feedback from parents that were saying, Look. 313 01:02:38.910 --> 01:02:44.700 Luh, Charlie: hey! 1,000 books! We I'm too. I'm too busy. I cannot write down 314 01:02:44.820 --> 01:02:48.669 Luh, Charlie: the the name of the author, the title of the book 315 01:02:49.000 --> 01:02:54.220 Luh, Charlie: that I've read to my child. Your program is too burdensome, burden burdensome. 316 01:02:54.510 --> 01:03:01.270 Luh, Charlie: So what? So what we ended up doing is we we created reading logs that you bubble you bubble in 317 01:03:01.980 --> 01:03:06.930 Luh, Charlie: you color in the bubble or the little starfish after you complete each 318 01:03:07.040 --> 01:03:10.999 Luh, Charlie: each book. So now the parent just has to bubble in the one 319 01:03:11.250 --> 01:03:40.149 Luh, Charlie: the 2, or the 3 books. So we're trying to make it as easy as possible on the parents. We're not trying to overburden them. We appreciate that. You know, everybody's busy today in today's world. There's just so much going on. At the same time, we want to maintain that it is. It is very beneficial for for you to read to your to your kids, so we've had to adapt. There is also a reading list that we've we've produced. 320 01:03:41.065 --> 01:03:42.700 Luh, Charlie: The reading list. 321 01:03:42.960 --> 01:03:51.549 Luh, Charlie: We do revise it from time to time. One of the questions we always get about the reading list is, why aren't there a thousand books? 322 01:03:51.900 --> 01:04:07.709 Luh, Charlie: And the reason is pretty simple. We're not out there to dictate to parents what they should read. We just want them to read. So we were afraid if we gave a you know a list of 1,000 books, then. 323 01:04:07.710 --> 01:04:23.190 Luh, Charlie: you know, the parents would just limit their reading to those books, and that's totally not the purpose of a thousand books before kindergarten. We just really want to try to promote that parent child bonding through reading. So we we 324 01:04:24.050 --> 01:04:25.090 Luh, Charlie: it's it's 325 01:04:25.810 --> 01:04:51.599 Luh, Charlie: it's just kind of like the things that we've learned throughout the years about how to deal with the public in general, on on the benefits of reading. But once again, everything, everything, all of our resources, the majority of them. They are designed to be free, free for use. They're editable. We have like fundraising letters to pretty much everything that you will need, or to interact with the public. 326 01:04:51.840 --> 01:05:02.169 Luh, Charlie: So the the typical cost for a thousand books before kindergarten, early early literacy challenge could be anywhere from a thousand dollars to $5,000. 327 01:05:02.570 --> 01:05:06.910 Luh, Charlie: But once again, hopefully, the cost will never be a deterrent. 328 01:05:07.210 --> 01:05:11.169 Luh, Charlie: We have these T-shirts made up once again. 329 01:05:11.290 --> 01:05:15.900 Luh, Charlie: We yeah, the 1,000 books foundation does. 330 01:05:16.060 --> 01:05:18.930 Luh, Charlie: I think we do carry these T-shirts in stock. 331 01:05:19.110 --> 01:05:34.339 Luh, Charlie: but we also give out the logo. So if you are able to interface with local local printers, or you have other means to print it. By all means do it. We're not trying to make money off T-shirts. It is one thing that a lot of the parents do like, though. 332 01:05:35.674 --> 01:05:46.259 Luh, Charlie: And we do have a lot of from time to time. We do have a lot of corporate sponsors. One of our recent sponsors from giving Tuesday for the last 2 years has been wayby. 333 01:05:47.121 --> 01:05:54.400 Luh, Charlie: They are a maker, and sorry this is the plug that they were entitled to get for being a sponsor. They are a maker of 334 01:05:54.780 --> 01:06:06.519 Luh, Charlie: ready to go child gear, so they make a very nice portable car seat. They've donated a lot of backpacks to individual libraries, too. And we 335 01:06:06.640 --> 01:06:07.569 Luh, Charlie: we have been. 336 01:06:08.310 --> 01:06:13.470 Luh, Charlie: We've been very fortunate that sorry the or it is 337 01:06:13.630 --> 01:06:17.150 Luh, Charlie: in the way. We've been very fortunate that they have also 338 01:06:17.620 --> 01:06:30.700 Luh, Charlie: donated the Pico car seat to us. They've given us 3 car seats that we're able to give out, and my team was supposed to have set up a raffle for this. But apparently 339 01:06:31.520 --> 01:06:32.560 Luh, Charlie: Wes just 340 01:06:32.920 --> 01:06:55.050 Luh, Charlie: emailed me earlier today that he wasn't able to get the raffle set up. However, if you are attending this ready to read Rendezvous Conference, I did promise, or we did promise. One of the car seats will be able to be given out. So I think we're going to have to have Bobby decide who gets the car seat, and we will definitely send that out. We also have some 341 01:06:55.050 --> 01:07:10.059 Luh, Charlie: wavy backpacks. I think we were able to earmark 20 of the backpacks to participants here today. You could either keep the backpacks for yourself, or you could give them out as incentives to your patrons. That complete the reading program. 342 01:07:10.140 --> 01:07:11.830 Luh, Charlie: We'll probably have to. 343 01:07:13.080 --> 01:07:13.870 Luh, Charlie: Okay. 344 01:07:14.460 --> 01:07:31.884 Luh, Charlie: yeah, it looks like Wes wasn't able to send those backpacks to Bobby, but we do have those backpacks as well. The reason, I say, that is, once again, we are all non paid volunteers pretty much. Every donation that goes in that that comes to us goes back out through 345 01:07:33.130 --> 01:08:02.499 Luh, Charlie: through our partners, and eventually to the patrons that partake in the 1,000 books before kindergarten program. We do. We do receive a lot of private funding, too, or some private funding yearly. We get about $10,000 from the Elks Foundation that we earmarked for books. If you are interested in that, you just go to our website. It's a thousand books before kindergarten.org. You could read about what the various promotions that we have, that we help 346 01:08:02.620 --> 01:08:06.440 Luh, Charlie: with our participant libraries. Right? 347 01:08:07.060 --> 01:08:15.360 Luh, Charlie: Okay? So we talked about the we talked about the the incentives. These are. These are just example 348 01:08:16.100 --> 01:08:24.349 Luh, Charlie: examples of what are they called when you hold them up for recognition. I can't remember what they're called. 349 01:08:24.529 --> 01:08:26.460 Luh, Charlie: But either way. We have, like 350 01:08:26.660 --> 01:08:45.129 Luh, Charlie: we have them for a hundred books, read 200 books, read a lot of the libraries, are creating their own picture frames to where the child holds up their book read. And this is an example of our certificate of completion that we make readily available for everybody. We've tried to make everything 351 01:08:45.490 --> 01:09:06.069 Luh, Charlie: in edible Pdfs. If there's something that a library will need, we, we do hopefully have some creative volunteers that will be able to create it for you at the same time. I know there's a lot of you out there that are very creative as well. If there's anything like you'd like to donate to other libraries. 352 01:09:06.240 --> 01:09:14.150 Luh, Charlie: Your creatives just let us know, and we could add it to the library turnkey packet for distribution to to everybody else. 353 01:09:14.890 --> 01:09:21.800 Luh, Charlie: Okay, so here's the library logo. We have the fundraising the reading list. I talked about it 354 01:09:22.020 --> 01:09:29.859 Luh, Charlie: 3 versions of our logo. We have other other versions as well. Once again. 355 01:09:29.979 --> 01:09:36.180 Luh, Charlie: I think I think, though, this Logo here on the left was one of the original Logos that we had, or 356 01:09:36.529 --> 01:09:43.229 Luh, Charlie: but we are a lot of the libraries that are creating their own are donating it for other libraries as well. 357 01:09:43.770 --> 01:09:48.909 Luh, Charlie: Here's the here's the instruction sheet that we have in the reading logs. 358 01:09:49.564 --> 01:09:52.749 Luh, Charlie: Once again. It's nothing, it's nothing. Fancy. 359 01:09:53.260 --> 01:09:57.230 Luh, Charlie: it's just a nice. It's just a nice way for the 360 01:09:57.420 --> 01:10:20.000 Luh, Charlie: the libraries to keep track of when their patrons do complete the program. I think I mentioned this, too. This is a self-paced program. It's also a self policing program. Believe it or not, we've had parents that have completed the program. I think the last count, the 361 01:10:20.430 --> 01:10:28.200 Luh, Charlie: the highest one, is maybe 10 times so, if my math is correct, that's 10 times a thousand, which is 10,000 books. 362 01:10:28.670 --> 01:10:31.739 Luh, Charlie: What's even more impressive or or 363 01:10:31.910 --> 01:10:50.040 Luh, Charlie: about that is the 10,000 or 10,000 different books. But we're not out there to, you know fact. Check any parents if they bring in a reading log, and they believe they, you know they're adamant. They've read the books. They will get the incentive if we're able to give it out. 364 01:10:51.970 --> 01:11:14.589 Luh, Charlie: so what you will find, I think, is that there's a lot of excitement initially with the program. You'll see a lot of parents, the ones that are more active on social media. They'll be very excited about the program. They'll say, Hey, you know. I've just started the 1,000 books before kindergarten program with my child, you know. Follow me on my journey. 365 01:11:15.264 --> 01:11:17.270 Luh, Charlie: Although there have been a million. 366 01:11:17.460 --> 01:11:22.659 Luh, Charlie: It's actually a lot higher now. But there's there's been a million parents that have taken up the challenge. 367 01:11:22.820 --> 01:11:30.390 Luh, Charlie: For some reason. Our completion rate, even with incentives, is still about 10 to 15%. 368 01:11:30.500 --> 01:11:32.430 Luh, Charlie: So we're trying to figure out. 369 01:11:33.247 --> 01:11:48.709 Luh, Charlie: why, that that number actually dies off. I it's probably kind of like with everything New Year's resolutions. We've just started 2025. It sounds like a great idea. And then in practice, maybe the 370 01:11:48.820 --> 01:11:54.909 Luh, Charlie: the the parents lose interest or something. But if anybody has any suggestions on that 371 01:11:55.555 --> 01:12:03.809 Luh, Charlie: on how to improve the completion rate, we're just we. We were greatly open to that. 372 01:12:04.260 --> 01:12:07.080 Luh, Charlie: We thought maybe the incentives were the 373 01:12:07.390 --> 01:12:14.840 Luh, Charlie: the Re. Going back to talk just very briefly about the incentives we we were thinking, maybe, that that was like. 374 01:12:16.710 --> 01:12:22.630 Luh, Charlie: like, I don't know. I don't know how to say it, but maybe the parents were thinking, well, it's not quite worth it. 375 01:12:22.920 --> 01:12:29.199 Luh, Charlie: because, unfortunately, that's what we get a lot. It's not worth it to read to my kid. 376 01:12:29.340 --> 01:12:38.649 Luh, Charlie: Personally, I find that baffling. We try to tell them you're not just reading to your kid, you're spending time with them. There isn't. There? Is that 377 01:12:38.980 --> 01:12:51.739 Luh, Charlie: real benefit there? But I don't know. Maybe they're thinking that the T-shirt is not is not enough, it doesn't justify their time. So if anybody does have re ways to continually 378 01:12:53.580 --> 01:13:01.859 Luh, Charlie: get completion of the program, that would be great. But you know our our numbers, the numbers that at least come back are still at 10 to 15%. 379 01:13:02.790 --> 01:13:05.839 Luh, Charlie: Here's the reading list that we were talking about 380 01:13:06.150 --> 01:13:34.139 Luh, Charlie: once again. We take no, no pride in it. It was, it was curated through the help of many librarians like yourselves, that have donated their time and their interests we understand as the program is starting to age and mature. You know we've passed 10 years on it now that there are a lot of new books on there and then there are a lot of books that may have gotten out of favor. 381 01:13:34.300 --> 01:13:46.179 Luh, Charlie: We really try not to make any judgments on those kind of things. If there's a title that library really wants added, we'll more than likely add it. 382 01:13:46.650 --> 01:13:52.750 Luh, Charlie: At the same time, there's sometimes there's backlash against particular authors 383 01:13:53.690 --> 01:14:06.669 Luh, Charlie: particular movements which we really personally, I really try to stay away from that kind of stuff, and we try to find books that are not offensive to a whole. 384 01:14:06.950 --> 01:14:10.580 Luh, Charlie: So it's been pretty hard. But we we still try. 385 01:14:10.900 --> 01:14:19.470 Luh, Charlie: There's there's an example of one of our letters to gather participation from your local community. 386 01:14:20.630 --> 01:14:30.769 Luh, Charlie: There's a certificate of recognition. We find that that's that's 1 of the one of the the beauties of the program. A lot of parents like it. 387 01:14:31.940 --> 01:14:39.150 Luh, Charlie: And really quick. I I want to talk to you about Copa. I am an attorney. So I know a little bit about Copa 388 01:14:39.876 --> 01:14:44.540 Luh, Charlie: but basically, Copa is the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. 389 01:14:45.320 --> 01:14:56.790 Luh, Charlie: This is this is why any picture that you see on our website, our Facebook or our Instagram, we have to obtain the parents permission to do that 390 01:14:59.530 --> 01:15:12.880 Luh, Charlie: for legal reasons. So if you are going to take pictures of your patrons and their little and their children holding the certificate or getting a sticker or anything. Just make sure you do obtain parental consent. 391 01:15:13.120 --> 01:15:15.390 Luh, Charlie: The big one is. 392 01:15:15.500 --> 01:15:44.449 Luh, Charlie: you got to wait till they're I think it's over 13. Yeah, 13. But you have to provide notice and get parental consent before collecting information from kids. You have to have a clear and comprehensive privacy policy, and you have to keep information they collect from kids confidential and secure. That's the one reason why the app data that we gather we are not. We're not able to give it out to the, to the libraries that ask 393 01:15:44.520 --> 01:15:54.170 Luh, Charlie: because of because of Copa. We may be a little bit extra paranoid about it, but we've always we've always felt it's better to be a little safe than sorry. 394 01:15:54.530 --> 01:16:09.000 Luh, Charlie: But please keep that in mind, because one, I think one of the reasons that 1,000 books before kindergarten did gather a lot of publicity nationwide is probably through social media. 395 01:16:10.460 --> 01:16:17.710 Luh, Charlie: I know in the early days we were able to send a nice, a nice young lady to the Library of Congress. 396 01:16:18.730 --> 01:16:20.850 Luh, Charlie: so it's just kind of neat. 397 01:16:21.050 --> 01:16:29.540 Luh, Charlie: all right, but keep in mind, Copa, be careful. Make sure you get parental consent. That's my, that'll be the only legal jargon that I talk about really, today. 398 01:16:30.720 --> 01:16:34.350 Luh, Charlie: Okay, so we got the the challenge. 399 01:16:34.630 --> 01:16:45.779 Luh, Charlie: The other thing is, keep in mind. If you do have a 1,000 books before kindergarten challenge, you're not supposed to charge your patrons for that. We had found that a lot of the 400 01:16:46.468 --> 01:16:48.980 Luh, Charlie: not a lot, but some of the 401 01:16:49.500 --> 01:16:58.659 Luh, Charlie: daycare facilities that were using our program. I guess they were for pay. So then, technically, they were in violation of it. But then they 402 01:16:58.930 --> 01:17:11.520 Luh, Charlie: I think they I have to. I have to go figure out what they did with that. But as it stands is, you're not supposed to use the 1,000 books before kindergarten trademark. If you're a for-profit entity. 403 01:17:12.089 --> 01:17:20.579 Luh, Charlie: it should only be used in a nonprofit reading program. I think the way around that is, there should be no charge to be in 404 01:17:21.008 --> 01:17:27.229 Luh, Charlie: the 1,000 books before kindergarten program, or if you're going to provide the nominal prizes. 405 01:17:27.582 --> 01:17:52.849 Luh, Charlie: And I'm sorry I did have to talk about some more legal. I remember this from our our legal team that specializes in this stuff. But we don't. We don't take part in any partisan political activities, and the only thing that we we request normally, when you use the 1,000 books before kindergarten is some attribution anywhere can be on your website. It could be in the literature. Just say you're using it with permission 406 01:17:53.120 --> 01:17:58.250 Luh, Charlie: of the 1,000 books foundation. And then a link back to our website. 407 01:17:59.210 --> 01:18:08.089 Luh, Charlie: We do have an iphone app that help iphone and android app that allows users users to track their reading. The links are right there. 408 01:18:09.250 --> 01:18:11.919 Luh, Charlie: What I what I said in the beginning 409 01:18:12.575 --> 01:18:26.709 Luh, Charlie: of the presentation rings. More true is the app has caused more frustration than anything for me personally in the in the program, you know. Having paid for the development of the app initially 410 01:18:26.860 --> 01:18:35.700 Luh, Charlie: back in 2013. And just the way technology moves, we fully recognize that it's it's not the greatest app it works. 411 01:18:35.890 --> 01:18:38.960 Luh, Charlie: It works, though it might not work 412 01:18:39.210 --> 01:18:48.349 Luh, Charlie: particularly how a parent wants it to work, but it works. It lets you, you know, scan books, track them, read them, mark them as read. 413 01:18:48.550 --> 01:18:59.739 Luh, Charlie: The the Ui, which I've learned is the user interface isn't as great. But frankly, the funding that we had committed to the app we, we. 414 01:19:00.060 --> 01:19:23.739 Luh, Charlie: we diverted it to other areas. So if you don't like the app, that's okay. You could, you could just use the traditional pen and paper. The same goes with the android app, too. They've taken different development paths. The the apple app is a little bit more has been modified or an updated more than the android app. 415 01:19:24.230 --> 01:19:39.690 Luh, Charlie: We didn't want to. We didn't want to leave anybody out, but at the same time I don't know if any of your libraries have an app, but it takes it literally takes like kind of like a full time staffing to answer those kind of questions that parents may have. 416 01:19:41.100 --> 01:19:50.050 Luh, Charlie: And I just want to talk to you. These are the fun facts from the app. In 2024 there are. There were 1 million. 417 01:19:50.350 --> 01:19:56.199 Luh, Charlie: 279,941 books read or marked as read in the app. 418 01:19:59.880 --> 01:20:01.400 Luh, Charlie: and since the app 419 01:20:01.510 --> 01:20:12.120 Luh, Charlie: came out there have been 10,465,573 books read all time in the app, or marked as read. And the reason 420 01:20:12.230 --> 01:20:15.450 Luh, Charlie: why I like to share the those numbers with you is because 421 01:20:15.740 --> 01:20:25.170 Luh, Charlie: it helps to say that there are people actually using the app that have found benefit of it. And I tell the volunteers all the time. 422 01:20:25.710 --> 01:20:32.780 Luh, Charlie: just because one parent or caregiver isn't able to get it. Work doesn't mean it's it's it's junk. So 423 01:20:32.930 --> 01:20:46.449 Luh, Charlie: top books read in 2024. That's fortunately it's the 1,000 books before kindergarten, a promise and a pledge book, which I believe Wes tells me that he he did send a lot of those. 424 01:20:46.560 --> 01:20:51.180 Luh, Charlie: I hope he did. He sent some copies to Bobby for distribution. 425 01:20:51.330 --> 01:20:59.100 Luh, Charlie: Another book read was the classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear. What do you see? Good night, moon! And the very hungry caterpillar 426 01:20:59.420 --> 01:21:14.970 Luh, Charlie: those 3 books. What's very interesting about this, in my opinion, is, although we were not trying to dictate what books are read. There was an early blog post on the 1,000 books kindergarten website about 427 01:21:15.850 --> 01:21:20.600 Luh, Charlie: those 3 books, so I don't. It's kind of like one of the 428 01:21:21.770 --> 01:21:24.899 Luh, Charlie: I don't know how I would say it, but it's 1 of the 429 01:21:26.380 --> 01:21:34.069 Luh, Charlie: we're very cognizant of of our role, and in helping promote reading, and 430 01:21:34.420 --> 01:21:39.470 Luh, Charlie: what what parents may read. I guess that's the best way to say it. 431 01:21:39.580 --> 01:21:48.739 Luh, Charlie: But you got chicka, chicka! Boom! Boom, are you, my mother, we're Spot A's for salad corduroy, and guess how much I love you. From 2024 432 01:21:49.800 --> 01:22:00.660 Luh, Charlie: top top books. Read all time. Brown Bear. Good night, moon and very hungry caterpillar. This is the based on 160,000 433 01:22:01.860 --> 01:22:05.849 Luh, Charlie: 143 readers registered readers on the app. 434 01:22:06.270 --> 01:22:25.899 Luh, Charlie: So it's kind of interesting. One day there will be some data that may be some AI technology that will then come out with recommended books based on that. But we haven't shared our data with anybody, so that that would have to be something we develop internally to help promote reading. 435 01:22:27.790 --> 01:22:34.389 Luh, Charlie: Oh, okay. And then I remember when 1,000 books before kindergarten 436 01:22:34.870 --> 01:22:47.159 Luh, Charlie: was initiated. Apps were the thing we did create. We did create additional apps. We have a letter writing app which is available on itunes as well. 437 01:22:47.300 --> 01:22:59.610 Luh, Charlie: There's a letter writing app. There should be a how to write your numbers app. There should be a shapes app how to write your words and your names. 438 01:22:59.720 --> 01:23:09.990 Luh, Charlie: Wes just sent me a message that unfortunately, it looks like the android apps had been taken down to the from the Google play because we weren't able to update them in time. But if we're able to 439 01:23:10.300 --> 01:23:26.949 Luh, Charlie: get the funding or commit some more funding to it, we'll probably get those apps back, or if anybody out there knows any computer engineers that would like to interface with us, we we are regularly on the volunteer societies like taproot to help us. 440 01:23:28.630 --> 01:23:36.019 Luh, Charlie: The books that we have are. We have the 1,000 books before kindergarten, a promise and a pledge that's released. 441 01:23:36.170 --> 01:23:41.249 Luh, Charlie: We've given out complimentary copies all the time. There's also an ebook version of it. 442 01:23:41.680 --> 01:23:44.730 Luh, Charlie: So just a nice, short little book. 443 01:23:45.050 --> 01:23:56.950 Luh, Charlie: Oh! And then the last one of the last things I always talk about is so our our ultimate goal, besides creating that that bonding experience with parents has always been 444 01:23:57.320 --> 01:24:05.759 Luh, Charlie: at the end of the journey, that your child should be able to read. So we we did release a comprehensive phonics program. 445 01:24:07.200 --> 01:24:13.440 Luh, Charlie: and wavy was able to. 446 01:24:14.550 --> 01:24:15.490 Luh, Charlie: Okay. 447 01:24:17.230 --> 01:24:32.759 Luh, Charlie: So we do have a comprehensive, complete online phonics program. We do offer a free, downloadable roadmap. You just go to the website phonics, 1,000 books before kindergarten.org you register, and you get the free 448 01:24:32.890 --> 01:24:44.030 Luh, Charlie: free roadmap. And here's another plug for Wayby. Through their generous contribution they were able to provide a code for all libraries 449 01:24:44.250 --> 01:24:55.660 Luh, Charlie: that want to offer the online program. I do want to say one thing about the online program. It's much more comprehensive because when you start trying to actually 450 01:24:55.770 --> 01:24:58.369 Luh, Charlie: have a structured program 451 01:24:58.610 --> 01:25:07.635 Luh, Charlie: on teaching children how to read. It's it's much more methodical, and it's much more entailed. So some libraries. 452 01:25:08.710 --> 01:25:24.739 Luh, Charlie: well, we I guess. What I'm trying to say is, I don't necessarily recommend having the phonics program right away. If you're interested in the 1,000 books before kindergarten early literacy challenge. I recommend you implement that in the library. That's very easy to implement. 453 01:25:24.810 --> 01:25:45.069 Luh, Charlie: And then the phonics program was the natural progression. Because what had happened is, you know, after we hit our maturation years of 10 years, then the parents were like, Well, can you help us complete the journey to reading, so to say so. Then the phonics program was designed and created. It's much more entailed. 454 01:25:45.070 --> 01:25:58.890 Luh, Charlie: The libraries today are using this for it's not for the younger kids, but it's for the older kids after 6 years of age, the ones that are already in kindergarten. What they're doing is they're giving out the material, the 455 01:25:58.890 --> 01:26:15.840 Luh, Charlie: the worksheets or the flashcards during story time. It's kind of neat you you make. You make sure that they come at least 15 times, because the program is in 15 steps, and then you just give them the handout for each step. But once again we don't dictate how the program is to be given out 456 01:26:15.850 --> 01:26:22.499 Luh, Charlie: either the literacy challenge itself or the phonics program. And then I think that was the 457 01:26:22.630 --> 01:26:33.360 Luh, Charlie: yep, here, here's the plug for the wayby. In addition to the car seats that they donated and the backpacks for the prizes Wayby was. They provided the funding that 458 01:26:33.430 --> 01:26:56.580 Luh, Charlie: every library could get could use their code that they created to get one year of the phonics program. The phonics program actually does have a cost associated with it. Just because one of our largest bills for the foundation. Believe it or not, is our Amazon Web Services Bill every month with the users of the app. 459 01:26:56.750 --> 01:27:02.279 Luh, Charlie: So the the coupon code for everybody that have come, that that have 460 01:27:02.630 --> 01:27:05.660 Luh, Charlie: that is attending today. One second. 461 01:27:05.870 --> 01:27:22.130 Luh, Charlie: Okay, it's going to be. Montana reads, and it's all under case. It's all lowercase. So if you want to get the phonics program for a year, even if you're not ready to use it, it's Montana reads all lowercase. 462 01:27:23.100 --> 01:27:24.710 Luh, Charlie: all one word. 463 01:27:24.850 --> 01:27:40.100 Luh, Charlie: and you should be able to get access to the the phonics program. And I really want to thank Wayby there. They've been pretty great. They've been not pretty great. They've been really great in terms of the incentives and helping us to defray the costs. So 464 01:27:42.421 --> 01:27:51.979 Luh, Charlie: we we also partner with Demco. I don't know if you're familiar with Demco. They have a full assortment of 1,000 books before kindergarten products to help 465 01:27:52.130 --> 01:28:17.469 Luh, Charlie: with the promotion of your program. We've also partnered with Eduware. They have a pretty cool line of interactive clothing. Keep in mind, though, too. Once again, I'm not trying to sell you anything. These are just bells and whistles. You really don't need any. You don't really need any of the bells and whistles as libraries. You already have pretty much what the parents need. You guys have the books? 466 01:28:17.959 --> 01:28:24.409 Luh, Charlie: That's really, that's the that's the biggest part about it that we're almost. 467 01:28:24.610 --> 01:28:49.580 Luh, Charlie: We're almost done here. So this is some of the Demco stuff that they've pre-made once again. I know there's a lot of creative people on this zoom. If you want to make your own 1,000 book stuff and donate the stuff you can as well, we just. I usually speak about this quite a bit, and we just had a nice donation from some people from Tennessee, so don't want States challenging each other. But if the 468 01:28:49.840 --> 01:29:01.580 Luh, Charlie: citizens of the great State of Montana want to help donate some stuff, I think they they use something called canva, and they created some nice brochures that we've been adding to the library turnkey packet. 469 01:29:02.780 --> 01:29:05.390 Luh, Charlie: Here's the etch where there's the T-shirt. 470 01:29:06.040 --> 01:29:08.160 Luh, Charlie: We do have a lot of 471 01:29:08.870 --> 01:29:12.000 Luh, Charlie: as not as many. But we had a lot of 472 01:29:12.300 --> 01:29:22.309 Luh, Charlie: librarians and children's authors making Youtube videos about the importance of the 1,000 books before kindergarten challenge. 473 01:29:22.700 --> 01:29:31.670 Luh, Charlie: Sorry about that. We had child author, Roger Baum. If you know Mr. Baum, he was the grandson. 474 01:29:32.140 --> 01:29:36.550 Luh, Charlie: he's the great. It's he's either the grandson 475 01:29:36.660 --> 01:29:40.570 Luh, Charlie: or great grandson of the individual that created the Wizard of Oz 476 01:29:41.870 --> 01:29:49.789 Luh, Charlie: Maybe about 5 years ago we had the Yo Gabba Gabba team. I don't know them. My kids are. 477 01:29:50.010 --> 01:30:03.869 Luh, Charlie: My kids have passed that past that age now, but it's really nice a lot of times we find that a lot of the children's actors or authors will definitely donate their time, and just to help promote reading. 478 01:30:05.350 --> 01:30:23.020 Luh, Charlie: although we do get some criticisms about the app or our reading list from time to time. We still haven't had any parent really tell us, at least not to our face, that reading to their kids is a bad idea. Hopefully, no parents will do that. 479 01:30:23.160 --> 01:30:24.600 Luh, Charlie: at least not yet. 480 01:30:26.090 --> 01:30:30.700 Luh, Charlie: And then oh, there's the video. But it's you aren't able to see it. 481 01:30:30.980 --> 01:30:33.470 Luh, Charlie: Oh, we do have a journal, too. 482 01:30:34.750 --> 01:30:41.119 Luh, Charlie: This was once again it was created more of a keepstake item. There's a paperback version of it, too. 483 01:30:42.670 --> 01:30:52.569 Luh, Charlie: it's just bells and whistles for the program. None of it is really absolutely necessary. And the last thing I always like to say, you know the final thoughts? 484 01:30:55.080 --> 01:30:58.260 Luh, Charlie: You should really contact your local newspaper 485 01:30:59.017 --> 01:31:06.719 Luh, Charlie: if you tell them that you're launching your 1,000 books before kindergarten program, it's almost guaranteed media coverage. 486 01:31:07.547 --> 01:31:12.119 Luh, Charlie: We've found in terms of donation, you contact local businesses 487 01:31:15.560 --> 01:31:20.159 Luh, Charlie: it should be offer in kind. So I I do see a a misprint. 488 01:31:20.350 --> 01:31:41.219 Luh, Charlie: But if you're if you're not familiar, a lot of times in kind, donations are easier to obtain than like monetary donations we have. I think it's the Finley Ohio Library that they they partnered with like a local library. I'm sorry. A local Hamburger chain that you get a free. I think it's a free cheeseburger. 489 01:31:41.470 --> 01:31:44.200 Luh, Charlie: Every time a child completes 490 01:31:44.780 --> 01:31:58.639 Luh, Charlie: the 1,000 books before kindergarten challenge, it looks good for the the local businesses, and then the kids really enjoy the Cheeseburger, and then the main thing, too, is try to always keep it fun and keep the children engaged. 491 01:31:59.170 --> 01:32:04.669 Luh, Charlie: and if any of you out there can figure out a way to help 492 01:32:05.200 --> 01:32:11.140 Luh, Charlie: get the completion rate from that 10 to 15% to maybe 30 to 40% 493 01:32:11.640 --> 01:32:14.315 Luh, Charlie: reach out to us and let us know. 494 01:32:14.800 --> 01:32:20.119 Luh, Charlie: that's pretty much it. For my my presentation. I did have. 495 01:32:20.750 --> 01:32:22.709 Luh, Charlie: I did have the website. 496 01:32:22.820 --> 01:32:27.779 Luh, Charlie: The website should be pretty, is it still sharing? I can't tell. 497 01:32:27.780 --> 01:32:28.920 Bobbi deMontigny: It is. Yeah. 498 01:32:28.920 --> 01:32:32.199 Luh, Charlie: Okay. So if you see, do you see the 3 kids. 499 01:32:33.640 --> 01:32:42.789 Luh, Charlie: Okay, so the the website is pretty straightforward. You know, we did get we try to update it. If you would like to contribute a blog. 500 01:32:43.380 --> 01:32:49.880 Luh, Charlie: We welcome it. But we do just talk about our activities. You got you got. 501 01:32:50.640 --> 01:33:02.419 Luh, Charlie: you know, this cute little girl, and with a T-shirt in the backpack, recognizing way, be in our second year. And then the phonics program. This is, I mean, this and the app are 502 01:33:02.780 --> 01:33:14.669 Luh, Charlie: Amazon web services really likes us. But here you go. You just go to phonics, 1,000 books before kindergarten. You could get the free download, and you could see the roadmap. Our 15 steps to reading. 503 01:33:14.870 --> 01:33:29.260 Luh, Charlie: It's all free. The roadmap is free. But there is a nominal charge to actually use the online program just to help pay Amazon, because we all love those Amazon boxes on our streets so. 504 01:33:30.250 --> 01:33:37.189 Luh, Charlie: and I think I have some time for some questions. I don't know other questions in the chat, or they. 505 01:33:39.530 --> 01:33:41.619 Luh, Charlie: Bobby, if you could help me with any. 506 01:33:41.620 --> 01:33:48.960 Bobbi deMontigny: Sure there are some questions in the chat. Let me scroll up to the start of them. Let's see, we have. 507 01:33:51.150 --> 01:34:02.150 Luh, Charlie: Yeah, Daliah. Yeah, it's Delia. There she goes. Thank you for finding that it was Delia Maria. She's really great. I gotta see what she's up to. 508 01:34:02.940 --> 01:34:03.625 Luh, Charlie: Alright 509 01:34:05.640 --> 01:34:16.340 Bobbi deMontigny: Yeah, we've got one from Annika that says, Thank you for this information, Charlie. I'm perusing through the online resources, and I cannot wait to share this with our preschool readiness center. 510 01:34:16.550 --> 01:34:17.290 Luh, Charlie: Great. 511 01:34:18.053 --> 01:34:24.410 Bobbi deMontigny: Brenda. Oh, Brenda says that there are some folks here. It from the 5, 9, 7. 1. 512 01:34:24.410 --> 01:34:25.420 Bobbi deMontigny: Okay. Alright. 513 01:34:25.420 --> 01:34:26.170 Bobbi deMontigny: Code. 514 01:34:26.170 --> 01:34:27.190 Luh, Charlie: Okay. 515 01:34:27.780 --> 01:34:39.529 Luh, Charlie: that's great. So yeah, you. So Brenda, all you need to tell us is, if you would like T-shirts or journals, I think we sent some to you right. Bobby Wes is telling me. 516 01:34:39.530 --> 01:34:40.230 Bobbi deMontigny: Yes. 517 01:34:40.230 --> 01:34:44.720 Luh, Charlie: Okay. But I, if you need additional, we'd like to send you additional stuff 518 01:34:44.830 --> 01:34:53.229 Luh, Charlie: as well. Just let us know what you need while while we have them fresh off the presses, we'd be more than great to give them. Give it out. 519 01:34:53.530 --> 01:34:55.300 Luh, Charlie: Can this be used for older? 520 01:34:55.830 --> 01:35:00.860 Luh, Charlie: Yeah. So, Megan, about the the tracker. 521 01:35:03.850 --> 01:35:11.249 Luh, Charlie: I I like the app because that's the way parents are today. They love the technology of it. 522 01:35:11.420 --> 01:35:24.329 Luh, Charlie: But if you, if you read like the mean emails that we've gotten about it. It's just it's kind of heartbreaking for me personally, and I usually have a pretty tough exterior interior and exterior. But 523 01:35:24.440 --> 01:35:30.050 Luh, Charlie: I mean literally, just 2 days ago we had someone like you need to stop your entire program because your app 524 01:35:30.580 --> 01:35:31.699 Luh, Charlie: just sucks. 525 01:35:31.880 --> 01:35:35.882 Luh, Charlie: And it's like is very hurtful. 526 01:35:36.820 --> 01:36:02.969 Luh, Charlie: so we we are going to try to work on that for older kids as well. I do know that libraries. I think you guys have access to? There's at least 2. Is it like reading squared and bean beanstack or something? I know, because they both reached out to us for licensing and charging, but, like I tell them you can't. You can't have a charge. If you want to use a thousand books before kindergarten. It makes us pretty unpopular. 527 01:36:02.970 --> 01:36:13.110 Luh, Charlie: It does prevent kind of like the funding we're able to get. We've we actually, in the early days we did have, like a major publisher approach us, and they wanted to rebrand it. 528 01:36:13.300 --> 01:36:27.519 Luh, Charlie: And, you know, kind of like, you know, like the bowl football games. They wanted it to put their their name before a thousand books before kindergarten, and we said, You can't. You can't really do that. We didn't want to. We didn't really want to commercial, commercialize everything. 529 01:36:27.850 --> 01:36:30.230 Luh, Charlie: And let me just keep going through. 530 01:36:30.850 --> 01:36:43.349 Luh, Charlie: Yeah. And then, yeah, just let us know. I mean, reach out to Bobby. Bobby has been great in terms of whatever materials we're able to provide for you. We'd really like to get those numbers in Montana up. 531 01:36:43.500 --> 01:36:54.349 Luh, Charlie: If you guys decide to host our host the 1,000 books before kindergarten, early literacy challenge at your at your library. It it'd be it'd be awesome. 532 01:36:55.200 --> 01:36:56.100 Luh, Charlie: And 533 01:36:59.420 --> 01:37:03.290 Luh, Charlie: yeah, recognizing yeah, recognizing the 534 01:37:03.450 --> 01:37:10.363 Luh, Charlie: the grownups for supporting their children. That is, that is another great thing, Molly, that you mentioned. 535 01:37:13.410 --> 01:37:19.230 Luh, Charlie: yeah. And the ice cream? Yeah, no, it's it's all and every all. The ideas are great 536 01:37:19.370 --> 01:37:23.810 Luh, Charlie: when when people ask us, it's pretty much anything. And 537 01:37:25.390 --> 01:37:31.928 Luh, Charlie: and yes, we do work with Wic Wic offices and state funded physicians. A lot of that work is through the 538 01:37:33.890 --> 01:37:43.600 Luh, Charlie: the united way as well. And we we are in hospitals, you know, like one of the coolest things ever was when the 1st hospital approached us. 539 01:37:43.770 --> 01:37:56.920 Luh, Charlie: You know every parent gets that the diapers right? It's to to addict them to buying pampers or huggies, and then what they ended up doing is they'd get a like a little like a little pamph. 540 01:37:57.040 --> 01:37:58.209 Luh, Charlie: What is it called? 541 01:37:58.350 --> 01:38:10.909 Luh, Charlie: You can't even remember little book insert for the library. It's like, Hey, this is. This is just as important. Get your child to the library, and then we've partnered with a lot of pediatricians as well. It was kind of neat when you see, like. 542 01:38:11.390 --> 01:38:18.799 Luh, Charlie: like a lot of the pediatricians in their waiting room, they have books, and if you see, like the 1,000 books before kindergarten in there. It's all great. 543 01:38:19.080 --> 01:38:21.960 Luh, Charlie: Yeah. And 544 01:38:22.590 --> 01:38:49.519 Luh, Charlie: that's pretty much it. Yeah, I wish we had more Youtube videos. We don't have as many Youtube videos that a lot of that really stopped after Copa because we just couldn't. We couldn't. We couldn't showcase our young kids as young as 5, being able to read as much because of these. The rules that Youtube had they got, they got massive fines. I don't know if you've guys followed that in the news. But 545 01:38:49.710 --> 01:38:57.540 Luh, Charlie: there was apparently these female gymnasts that people were using their videos for improper reasons. So 546 01:38:58.790 --> 01:39:16.119 Luh, Charlie: but yeah, no, I loved it. I do appreciate it. I do appreciate everybody coming in. I love the sharing of the ideas reach out to me, reach out to anyone at the foundation like I did say we are all volunteers. We started as a 547 01:39:16.370 --> 01:39:21.819 Luh, Charlie: I don't know if anyone remembers the old show Ballstar Galactica, but we started as a ragtag 548 01:39:22.200 --> 01:39:44.060 Luh, Charlie: group of large vessels, and we're now down to a dozen, and we like to continue to always increase our numbers. But we love. It's a great feeling. I do thank everybody for attending today. Nobody yelled at me. There's no judge yelling at me, telling me what my office didn't do, or something to that effect. 549 01:39:44.270 --> 01:39:47.314 Luh, Charlie: But yeah, no, we we love it. 550 01:39:48.180 --> 01:40:05.210 Luh, Charlie: if I'm if I'm sounding repetitive, start with the early literacy program very, very easy to implement, then use the phonics program for those parents that want a little bit more. And I did. I think I think I said it a couple times, but Montana reads 551 01:40:05.440 --> 01:40:07.270 Luh, Charlie: according to Wes. Here 552 01:40:08.070 --> 01:40:17.300 Luh, Charlie: is, is the is the free code for the year. The year that way be the year a year. Access for the 3 organizational license that 553 01:40:17.620 --> 01:40:25.200 Luh, Charlie: the libraries can use. With that license you're able to print off all the materials. So it's great. 554 01:40:25.980 --> 01:40:36.890 Bobbi deMontigny: Thank you so much, Charlie. And I don't know if you'd like to. But while you were giving your presentation, I did manage to set up a little random name generator, wheel, so. 555 01:40:36.890 --> 01:40:37.530 Luh, Charlie: Okay. 556 01:40:37.530 --> 01:40:40.119 Bobbi deMontigny: To still raffle things. We could do that. 557 01:40:40.120 --> 01:40:49.009 Luh, Charlie: Yeah, no, let's do it. I mean, we got the one we got the one pico car seat with the travel bag. 558 01:40:49.837 --> 01:40:53.759 Luh, Charlie: Retail values like 6 or $700. 559 01:40:54.010 --> 01:40:56.490 Luh, Charlie: And I love this. So let's go. 560 01:40:56.850 --> 01:41:00.400 Bobbi deMontigny: Before I hit the button. Everyone can see my screen right? 561 01:41:04.030 --> 01:41:07.829 Bobbi deMontigny: You see the little spinny wheel with names. Okay? And then. 562 01:41:07.830 --> 01:41:08.710 Luh, Charlie: Great. Yeah. 563 01:41:08.710 --> 01:41:21.539 Bobbi deMontigny: On the side here. If I just want you to scan this real quick and make sure if you don't see yourself, speak up so I can add you. But I think I got everybody that was registered for the course in Msl. Learn. 564 01:41:30.290 --> 01:41:33.669 Bobbi deMontigny: Okay, I think we must have y'all. 565 01:41:33.670 --> 01:41:36.249 Luh, Charlie: Is this? Is this wheel of names, Bobby, is this. 566 01:41:36.250 --> 01:41:37.820 Bobbi deMontigny: It is. Yeah. 567 01:41:37.820 --> 01:41:39.810 Luh, Charlie: Gotta get my glasses out now. So. 568 01:41:40.830 --> 01:41:52.999 Bobbi deMontigny: I'm gonna put that link in the chat in case anyone ever wants to use this I've used it before for other things, and I'm happy to see it's still around and free. Okay, so what are we raffling with this click. 569 01:41:53.000 --> 01:42:03.209 Luh, Charlie: Alright, we'll give that for this one. It'll be the the car, the pico car seat and the travel bag. And if yeah, so 570 01:42:03.210 --> 01:42:05.970 Luh, Charlie: that's great travel bag. 571 01:42:06.420 --> 01:42:08.170 Bobbi deMontigny: Goes to. 572 01:42:17.100 --> 01:42:18.930 Luh, Charlie: Annika R. 573 01:42:18.930 --> 01:42:19.730 Luh, Charlie: Right? 574 01:42:23.570 --> 01:42:24.590 Luh, Charlie: It's great 575 01:42:26.490 --> 01:42:35.070 Luh, Charlie: good job. And then I just need to make sure you somehow get the mailing address to either myself or or Wes. 576 01:42:35.950 --> 01:42:37.289 Luh, Charlie: Oh, yeah, I'll get that squared away. 577 01:42:37.290 --> 01:42:39.890 Luh, Charlie: We we have the wavy backpacks. 578 01:42:42.530 --> 01:42:45.059 Bobbi deMontigny: Info, and there were 20 of those. 579 01:42:47.320 --> 01:42:51.929 Bobbi deMontigny: You know what I feel like, Oprah Winfrey, and you get a backpack and you get a backpack. 580 01:42:51.930 --> 01:42:53.400 Bobbi deMontigny: Well, yeah, cause with that. 581 01:42:53.400 --> 01:42:58.119 Luh, Charlie: What I'll do. What I'll do, Bobby, is, I'll just have Wes send out 582 01:42:58.660 --> 01:43:03.929 Luh, Charlie: just 20 of them to you, and are you able to distribute to everybody throughout the State, then. 583 01:43:03.930 --> 01:43:09.859 Bobbi deMontigny: Yeah, well, to yeah, everyone who attended I'm gonna be able to send 20 is the magic number. So I. 584 01:43:09.860 --> 01:43:10.739 Luh, Charlie: There you go! 585 01:43:10.740 --> 01:43:11.370 Bobbi deMontigny: To everybody. 586 01:43:11.370 --> 01:43:14.479 Luh, Charlie: All right. I feel like Oprah Winfrey. So that's good. 587 01:43:15.740 --> 01:43:25.040 Luh, Charlie: And I really enjoyed it like I said, this is like something I really love what I really what I really like my kids. They both went through the program 588 01:43:25.758 --> 01:43:29.700 Luh, Charlie: and they were reading pretty early early on. So 589 01:43:30.760 --> 01:43:38.019 Luh, Charlie: definitely, if anybody has any other questions. I mean, I'm a live person. I live. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada. 590 01:43:38.210 --> 01:43:44.550 Luh, Charlie: Reach out to me on Linkedin or send an email. Send it over to the foundation and we'll be able to grade grade it. 591 01:43:45.580 --> 01:43:47.739 Luh, Charlie: Get it. Okay, thank you. 592 01:43:47.740 --> 01:43:49.059 Bobbi deMontigny: Thank you so much. 593 01:43:49.060 --> 01:43:49.520 Bobbi deMontigny: Yeah. 594 01:43:49.550 --> 01:43:58.879 Bobbi deMontigny: yeah, I really appreciate you spending some time with us this morning. And this was super fun. And I, you're getting a lot of things in the chat. People are really excited about this. 595 01:43:58.880 --> 01:44:10.380 Luh, Charlie: Yeah, no. And I. And like, I said, Let's get those numbers in Montana up. Okay, I wanna next time we report we'll see some high numbers for 1st finishers and all that. Okay.