MVC Murrell Library and Education Division Participates in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record

The MVC Education Division and Murrell Library participated in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, which is an early literacy campaign. This event brings millions of adults and children together to read the same book on the same day all around the United States. MVC worked with several Saline County school districts, Head Start, local childcare providers, and Marshall Public Schools and reached over 3,000 listeners.

Incorporating this initiative in Saline County was spearheaded by Peggy Sherman’s EDU 371 course. Sherman is an associate professor of education at MVC.

“My goal is to help ‘raise readers’ in our community and shine a light on the importance of early literacy,” said Sherman. “We’re lucky to have so many area schools that share that same goal and participate. It’s also important to educate our Missouri Valley College early childhood education majors on the importance and many benefits of early literacy by participating in this event.”

The goal set for Thursday, October 27, 2022, was reaching 200 students and Sherman was pleased to announce that they far exceeded that goal. The total number of students reached was 3,375.  Participating Saline County schools included Head Start, Southeast Elementary, Hardeman School, Spainhower Primary School, Miami R–1 School, and Slater Early Childhood & Elementary. 

In 2019, Dr. Bryan Carson, Sarah Haug, Margot Mirabal and Peggy Sherman wrote a proclamation, which was approved by the mayor, making November Early Childhood Literacy Month in Marshall. This proclamation highlights the importance of building early literacy and language skills for EVERY child so that all children have the opportunity to enter kindergarten prepared to succeed. 

To find out more about the Read for the Record initiative, or to learn more about Missouri Valley’s early childhood education major, contact Associate Professor Peggy Sherman at shermanp@moval.edu.