RedRover Readers Elementary School Program Diversifies
Expanded Curriculum And New On-Demand Training Offered
Sacramento, California (October 4, 2022) – RedRover is pleased to announce the expansion of their RedRover Readers program curriculum to be more inclusive, and is now more accessible to educators through a new on-demand training.
RedRover Readers was established in 2007 as a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program designed for educators to teach children ages 5-11 years old the three steps to developing empathy, which can counter animal cruelty and neglect.
In 2020, RedRover committed to examining their programs and approach to accomplishing their mission with the goal of becoming more inclusive, diverse, and equitable. Five new books have been added to the RedRover Readers curriculum, *four of which show characters from a variety of life circumstances.
RedRover President and CEO Nicole Forsyth said, “We are committed to making the RedRover Readers program more accessible and inclusive to students by offering a diverse range of books, and making it even easier for educators to take the training by offering the course on demand for the first time. In a period when students have been a lot more isolated, classrooms need programs that encourage positive and inclusive learning now more than ever.”
Diverse representation in children’s literacy benefits students’ overall SEL health by allowing children to see themselves represented as protagonists in stories. These stories also help begin conversations that introduce classrooms and students to different cultures and people from around the world. Highlighting and supporting diverse authorship in humane-themed literature can help create a more equitable world for both children and animals.
New program books include:
- *Alya and the Three Cats: Written by Amina Hahimi Alaoui and illustrated by Maya Fidawi. Three cats, each with their distinct personalities, adjust to life with a new baby in the house. Written by Moroccan writer and Founder and CEO of Yanbow Al Kitab, a Moroccan publishing house specializing in children’s books.
- *The Cat Man of Aleppo: Written by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha and illustrated by Yuko Shimizu. The real story of a man in Aleppo, Syria, who helps many cats in a war-torn area.
- *Looking out for Sarah: Written and illustrated by Glenna Lang. A guide dog named Perry helps a blind woman named Sarah navigate her day.
- *Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush’s Incredible Journey – Written by Doug Kuntz and Amy Shrodes and illustrated by Sue Cornelison. The true story of an Iraqi refugee family reuniting with their cat after a long journey. Volunteers and caring people help along the way.
- Out of the Cold: Written by Valerie Ingram and Alistair Schroff and illustrated by Amanda Moeckel. Classmates come together to help outdoor dogs and cats stay warm in the winter.
The RedRover Readers workshop will now be offered on-demand — educators can register and move through the course on their own time at their own pace, with less than six hours of coursework. For a limited time, the workshop will be offered at a discounted rate of $35 per educator in honor of RedRover’s 35th anniversary. Teachers can submit this professional development opportunity to their district for up to five credit hours.
The first 35 registrations will be entered to win a RedRover Readers gift basket and a $25 VISA gift card. Register today at RedRover.org/on-demand.
About RedRover
Since 1987, RedRover has focused on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the human-animal bond through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance, and education. RedRover has earned a coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. To learn how RedRover is creating a more compassionate world, visit RedRover.org.
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Contact:
Sheri Madsen
916.600.8157