Partnering for Early Childhood Literacy:
Way to Grow + Reach Out and Read
Way to Grow celebrates the power of partnership in advancing early childhood literacy. We know that learning begins long before a child enters a classroom, and long before they can read on their own. Our work centers on families from pregnancy through third grade, and why we’re proud to partner with Reach Out and Read Minnesota to surround families with support, guidance, and access to books every step of the way. Together, we help build early reading routines. As a result, families are better equipped to support learning at home.
From Waiting Rooms to Living Rooms
Families now have access to information about Way to Grow in Reach Out and Read clinics across the Twin Cities. Resources like these can spark a journey. It might start with a pediatrician’s encouragement and continue with a Family Educator’s first home visit. Together, we help parents build strong reading habits, navigate school and healthcare systems, and foster joyful, literacy-rich routines that become the backbone of lifelong learning.
In fact, books are just the beginning. Whether it’s a literacy game night, a community baby shower, or a parent support group, Way to Grow creates spaces where families can show up, share stories, and build community.
A Shared Commitment to Literacy and Connection
Reach Out and Read Minnesota partners with clinics across the state to incorporate books and early learning guidance into young children’s routine pediatric care. At well-child visits starting in infancy and continuing through age 5, clinicians (including pediatricians, family physicians, and nurse practitioners) give books to young children,and share guidance with parents and caregivers about how reading, singing, and speaking together helps their child’s development.
“There is no better way to help a young child’s brain develop than reading with them,” says Dr. Mike Mercer, a physician at Allina Health United Family Physicians in St. Paul and Reach Out and Read Minnesota board member. “Reading with children will help them develop language, understand the world around them, think creatively, and broaden their imagination. Reading with children can be relaxing, and bonding, and may alleviate anxiety and improve sleep. I cannot think of another activity that provides so much benefit for so little cost.”
Their work doesn’t stop there. Reach Out and Read offers targeted initiatives for families facing unique challenges, including multilingual households, military communities, and those impacted by systemic barriers to care. They also maintain a rich resource library that provides practical guidance on what, how, and why to read with children, organized by age and stage. Their approach is backed by research and endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which reaffirmed in 2023 that literacy promotion is a “vital component of pediatric primary care” (AAP News, 2023). All of these efforts reinforce what Way to Grow sees every day, as well as what evidence confirms: consistent reading helps children grow, learn, and thrive.
Our Impact
At Way to Grow, we meet families where they are, literally and figuratively. Through our Great by Eight model, we walk alongside parents and caregivers from pregnancy through third grade, helping them build confidence, access resources, and nurture school readiness from day one.
For example, here’s a snapshot of Way to Grow’s progress in 2024:
- 88% of children in our programs were ready for kindergarten, compared to 61% citywide.
- 100% of children enrolled in our preschools met kindergarten-readiness benchmarks.
- 80% of K–3 students showed growth in reading-level assessments.
- 93% of students attended school at least 90% of the time.
- 90% of parents reported reading with their child at least weekly.
- 60 students received virtual reading tutoring—all showed gains in fluency.
Help a Child Thrive
When learning starts early and happens everywhere, children don’t just catch up. They thrive.
Want to connect a family with our programs? Visit waytogrow.org/enroll to learn more.
