BlogIntern ReflectionOutreachUncategorized

August 19, 2025 by Adrianna Wagner 0 Comments

What I’ve Learned About Literacy and Outreach as a Communications Intern

When I was offered a position as a Communications Intern with Readeezy, I was ecstatic. As a third-year student studying English literature and marketing, it was the perfect opportunity to blend my passion for books and my social media experience to advance a non-profit whose mission I firmly believed in. Upon beginning the internship, a simple question was posed to the Communications team: What would you like to do?

I immediately knew.

Readeezy’s CEO, Dr. Maria Cleary, spoke at length about the value of facilitating partnerships between educators and other non-profits during my interview process. Readeezy already explored partnerships intended to enhance our books’ readability, but aimed to expand its outreach to classrooms and organizations where the need for literacy resources was most critical. Having a direct role in placing Readeezy’s books in the hands of striving and disabled readers instantly appealed to me, and I quickly got to work.

Outreach with a Purpose

Stepping into an unfamiliar position, I was fortunate to have a strong starting point; previous Communications Interns compiled a list of potential contacts. I began drafting emails: some to educators who could integrate Readeezy’s books into their classrooms and others to non-profit organizations committed to providing delayed/disabled tweens, teens and ELL students with essential literacy resources.

Early in the process, I began to truly understand the weight of my role. I thoroughly reviewed every individual and organization to which I reached out, learned about their programs or line of work, and identified how Readeezy could aid in their existing efforts. As I began sourcing my own contacts, I discovered more about other non-profits’ role in promoting accessibility in literacy. Every message I sent was an opportunity to build a bridge between a struggling reader and an engaging book, or forge a rewarding collaboration between another non-profit, an educator, or a parent struggling to encourage their children to read.

In just under eight weeks, I have contacted over 200 potential partners.

What I Discovered

I found that Readeezy does not just create engaging hi-lo books; we join a wider conversation about how to serve readers who are often overlooked. Nearly three months of researching other organizations provided me with valuable insights into the countless programs that operate in communities across the country. These programs provide an opportunity for English language-learners, disabled individuals, and struggling or delayed readers to develop the reading skills necessary to ensure lifelong success. I took my outreach a step further and attended a Project for Adolescent Literacy (PAL) webinar. There, I uncovered an extensive network of people who work to support students through research, classroom innovation, and technology integration. Wherever my outreach took me, I saw the same shared commitment: to break down barriers to literacy and ensure that every individual, regardless of age or ability, has the tools to thrive.

What I Will Carry Forward

During my internship, I applied my previous experience in digital marketing and communications and deepened my understanding of strategic outreach. Here are the three most important lessons I learned:

Intention Matters: Just as I considered my audience when crafting a social media post (or a blog post!), it was also necessary to tailor my message to the organization or person I was contacting. There should always be an emphasis on genuine connection and respect for what other organizations contribute to their community.

Always Follow-Up: There is extraordinary value in a well-timed follow-up. If I did not receive a response after five days, I sent a follow-up email. This active approach led to meaningful conversations, including one between Dr. Cleary and a potential partner.

Keep Moving Forward: Not every contact will respond. Emails can get lost, resources may be limited, or, simply, the timing may not be right. Whatever the reason, it was vital for me to not get discouraged. Rather than seeing this as failure, I viewed it as a chance to refine my approach for future Communications cohorts.

Communication is, at its core, the art of building connection and understanding. The same is true in professional settings, and more than that, it is integral to Readeezy’s mission. Because, really, what are books if not a conversation between writer and reader or storyteller and listener?

As someone who intends to pursue a career in the publishing industry, this internship experience expanded my view of equity and inclusion in the field. Readeezy exists within a vibrant community of non-profit organizations, educators, and researchers that work tirelessly to fill gaps in traditional publishing. From communications interns and grant writers to illustrators and authors, I am proud of the work all of Readeezy’s interns have accomplished, and I am even more proud to have played a role in improving literacy for readers everywhere.

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July 10, 2025 by Tricia Downing 2 Comments

Summer Reading

As a child, I enjoyed losing myself in a good book when the summer days felt long. My parents would take me to the local library, and I would search the shelves for a new adventure. The library advertised a summer reading program that rewarded readers with free chocolate-dipped ice cream cones after completing a set number of books.

Reading and free ice cream cones? Perfect summer for a bookworm like me.

Times have changed since my elementary school days. My middle schooler would rather play Roblox than open a book. I knew it was important for him to continue reading during summer break, but I wasn’t sure how to help him. I’m sure several parents and teachers can relate!

Why is Summer Reading Important?

There’s a good deal of evidence that summer reading is essential to beat the “summer slide,” a term used to explain the loss of progress a student makes during the summer break. Studies show most students experience this phenomenon. However, several factors, such as socioeconomic status and reading struggles can lead to a more dramatic decline. This article from Reading Rocket provides helpful information and cites several studies backing their findings.

While researching this topic, I came across an insightful resource from the Brave New Teaching podcast. The teachers who were featured developed a resource for parents, teachers, and educators of secondary students called “The Summer Reading Rescue.” In this episode/webinar, several strategies are discussed to support summer reading.

What is the Reading Culture at Home/School?

The Summer Reading Rescue host raised an interesting concept called the “reading culture” of the school. She prompted the listeners to consider what messages are being given about reading. Is reading fun? Is it only for academic growth? Is all reading encouraged, or only certain “approved” books?

These are fantastic questions for both parents and teachers to consider.

I’m an avid reader, and I often discuss the books I read with my son, mostly because I get excited when I read an excellent book and have to share with whoever happens to be around. I hope this shows him that reading can be fun by hearing the excitement in my voice when describing my most recent favorite book.

Similarly, I try to find books about topics he’s interested in. He loves superheroes and anime, so we often buy him graphic novels. I’ll admit, this was a struggle for me at first. I didn’t appreciate graphic novels as a legitimate form of literature until I researched the genre. For my middle schooler, this format engages him. He struggles to create word pictures when reading traditional books, so graphic novels help him understand the story.

We’ve also discovered his retention is better when he listens to audiobooks rather than reading text. I’ve borrowed audiobooks from a library app that he showed interest in. Though he still needs a little reminder, my middle schooler has a positive experience reading.

Parents and teachers, it’s essential that we keep an open mind when it comes to reading. We may have preconceived notions of what a “book” should be, but we must keep in mind a student’s learning style, preferences, and abilities.

What is our tone when we talk about reading? Do we share our excitement when we read? Do we encourage various reading options, or do we have specific ideas of what counts as “reading”? Is reading seen as a potential hobby or another assignment?

Using Social Media to Encourage Reading

I read an interesting article about what parents need to know about BookTok by NewYorkFamily.com, with some good suggestions. Most middle and high schoolers are already on social media, and maybe parents and teachers can talk with them about what influencers in their age group are saying about books. Parents could search TikTok or Instagram for book reviews they think might spark interest and share it with their child. Viewing influencers talk about books might intrigue a hesitant reader.

However, not every book or topic discussed on BookTok or Bookstagram may be appropriate for some students. Each parent and teacher should carefully consider how to approach these apps and how to navigate these communities.

A student may be more willing to read if the follow-up assignment is engaging. The article BookTok for Secondary Learners: How Social Media is Shaping Literacy and Reading provides insight into how social media is shaping the reading landscape. Several fun assignments are suggested as alternatives to back-to-school book reports, such as creating a book trailer or a BookTok-style review video. Students can be creative and allow their personalities and tech skills to shine. And there’s no reason they have to wait to go back to school to create one!

Show Your Local Library Love!

Public libraries are a great resource, especially for lower-income families. They often have summer reading programs and fun events planned during the summer. My middle schooler enjoyed the Pokémon treasure hunt in which we participated last summer; he followed clues around the library to the “treasure”: a variety of books to choose from at the children’s book check-out counter.

Library apps like Libby and Hoopla make it even easier to borrow books; all you need is a library card to access eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines. Hoopla even offers a selection of music and movies as part of its digital library.

Hoopla features a “Kids Only” mode, allowing only age-appropriate titles to be accessed on a device. I downloaded this app for my middle schooler, and he borrows books often. I can see everything he borrows and the progress he’s made from my device.

Readeezy Books are Perfect for Summertime Reading

Readeezy cares about year-round reading, and we offer several books perfect for summertime. An active student may enjoy Sink or Swim, a book about a surfing competition. If your family is going on vacation, bring along Vacation Island Mystery and read a fun and spooky story. Readeezy has a story for every reader.

Readeezy aims to support students with various reading struggles. Its digital books have a text-to-speech option and illustrations on every page. Students answer questions while they read along, boosting comprehension and vocabulary skills.

No matter the season, Readeezy is a great resource for young readers.

We Can Fight the Summer Slide!

Parents and teachers ultimately want to see their students succeed, and so do we at Readeezy. We aim to help young readers, especially those experiencing reading difficulties, discover a spark for reading and literacy.

I still get pushback from my middle schooler when I suggest he read a book instead of more time on screens. He may never be as much of a fan of reading as I am, and that’s fine.

My goal is to support my middle schooler the best I can and make reading as appealing as possible. I know each parent or teacher reading this article shares that goal for their students.

Let’s make summer reading fun!