By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
OZARK– The Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Alabama is helping young learners build a strong foundation for academic success through its Coaching a Better Reader program, a six-week summer literacy initiative designed for children entering first grade.
The program, offered in partnership with first-grade teachers at Lisenby Primary School, focuses on improving early literacy skills through guided instruction, family engagement, and at-home learning strategies.
Coaching a Better Reader, commonly known as CBR, is designed to equip both children and parents with tools to support reading success. Families participate together in weekly sessions where they learn literacy techniques, receive educational resources, and gain individualized support and feedback.
“Research consistently shows that students perform better when families are actively involved in their education,” said Jessica Moore, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Alabama.
“The mission of Coaching a Better Reader is to improve literacy outcomes by developing the teaching and mentoring skills of parents and caregivers, allowing them to reinforce what students are learning in the classroom,’ Moore added.
Organizers of the reading initiative say the program has produced strong results in previous years and are excited to bring it back for the summer of 2026.
The program is open to students entering first grade. Current Boys & Girls Club members will receive priority registration. If space remains available, enrollment will be opened to the public.
Classes will be held on Tuesdays at 5 p.m., beginning June 9, and will continue for six weeks. Parent participation is required for each session.
In addition to strengthening foundational reading skills and building confidence in young learners, the program provides parents with practical strategies and resources they can continue using at home long after the program concludes.
Coaching a Better Reader is a collaborative initiative supported by the Alabama Reading Initiative, the Literacy Council of Central Alabama, and the South Baldwin Literacy Council.
The Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Alabama is located at 195 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. in Ozark. For more information, call (334) 445-0512 or visit bgcseal.com/summer-2026.
