Program flyer for the Reading to the HEART program. Reading to the HEART is an exciting family reading program featuring computer technology projects, book discussions, arts & crafts projects, photography, scrapbooking and family portfolio development, and other family literacy events.

The purpose of the School-Home Links Reading Kit is to encourage greater family, school and community involvement in the education of children and to improve their skills and achievements in reading and other language arts.

Are you looking for ways to stretch your technology budgets for literacy programs? Information on Web-based resources you can use in literacy programs, including lesson plans, computer project, online books, "the arts" and professional development are included in the PowerPoint presentation Stretch your technology budget: Using Web-based resources in literacy programs.

During the reading challenge, participants may read on their own or with family or friends. Listening to someone else read -- in any language -- or reading to someone else also counts toward the total minutes children read books, newspaper or magazine articles, comic books, newsletters or other printed materials.

The Louisiana Sustainable Community Project, Reading to the HEART -- a partnership involving the LSU AgCenter and local agencies -- targets youth and families in two Louisiana parishes: Rapides and Madison. Drawing on the latest research in reading motivation, the projects seeks to help children develop specific reading development skills and also to educate parents and guardians on ways to support their children’s literacy advancement.

Four simple reasons to start a Hero Pack Service-Learning Project in your parish.

Jackson High School 4-H and the communities in West and East Feliciana parishes put together a Family Fun Day and invited the local military families to join in.

Vernon Parish 4-H’ers participated in the Ronald McDonald House Aluminum Tab Collection service-learning project. The goals of this project were to educate others concerning the use and needs of the Ronald McDonald House programs, to involve our parish and communities in our efforts, to collect more than 700 pounds of aluminum tabs for donation and to educate others in the need to recycle for our environment. To find out more...

Youth from Webster Parish participated in the Doyline High Desk Project service-learning project. The goal of this project was to generate funds to purchase new desks for the high school wing of Doyline High School. To find out more...

4-H'ers from Union Parish participated in the Lake D’Arbonne Wildlife Vegetation project. Among the goals of this project were to plant three food plots measuring approximately 5,875 square feet with soybeans and brown-top millet for Lake D’Arbonne State Park wildlife. To find out more...