Read Conmigo Helps Teachers Promote the Power of Reading. New Bilingual Literacy Campaign sponsored by Infinity Insurance has helped 138,000 Latino Families

Infinity Insurance provides teachers and parents tools to promote healthy reading environments at home. Read Conmigo, the new parent-focused literacy program that encourages Latino parents to read to their children at home, using free English-Spanish books.  Read Conmigo launched its preliminary pilot campaign last year, and has already distributed more than138,000 free books to classrooms and Hispanic families.

Educators can learn about participating in the program and sign up for a one-time shipment of 20 children’s books at www.readconmigo.org.   Parents of children in grades K through 5 can also register online to receive free bilingual children’s books every other month at no cost.

Read Conmigo books feature engaging stories in both English and Spanish, so that parents and children can read together.  Some Latino parents and grandparents might be hesitant to read aloud to their children at home because they can only read in Spanish.  Studies show, however, that bilingual reading at home is just as effective at building good reading habits and fostering a positive learning environment.   This helps the students raise their reading levels and succeed in the classroom.

Additionally, the program creates opportunities for up and coming Hispanic authors and illustrators. Ongoing manuscript contests, held by Infinity Insurance, award cash and publication to new writers and artists. Along with the Read Conmigo authors and illustrators, Infinity Insurance employees engage their communities by participating in special events at schools and libraries which include book signings and tips to developing bilingual literacy in young readers.

“Read Conmigo is life-changing for parents and students because it emphasizes the value of family reading time in both English and Spanish,” said Jonathan Martinez, community outreach director of The Dream Center in Los Angeles. “This program shows parents how to get more involved in their children’s education.”  The Read Conmigo campaign not only promotes the distinct educational and financial benefits of bilingualism, but also provides parents with free tools and resources to help them create a lifelong love of reading.

By:  Stephanie Rojas, The Conroy Martinez Group