All posts by Kate Arthur

A message from our Founder

General

Many years ago, I was principal of a country school. It bothered me that too many of our children had trouble learning to read and write. It bothered me into action.

In my school we made a huge effort. Best practice. It was a blitz. With great results, right?
Well, no. We had results, but they were not great. For all our efforts, the results were — as a teacher I hate admitting this — disappointing. This got me thinking. Are some children just doomed? Or were we missing something? I looked wider. What I found changed everything.

Study after study showed that a child’s ability to learn to read and write at school is set in the first five years of life. The first three years, in fact. School was too late. And what’s needed in those early years? Simple. Yet I could see that it wasn’t happening in many families.

Spend time with children every day, from birth — talking, singing, rhyming, reading — and you’ll prepare them to read and write at school. It’s from this insight that Paint the Town REaD was born.

‘Painting the town red’ carries the notion of celebration, of ‘doing’ the town, of saturating it with excitement and enthusiasm. That’s the literacy culture we want to generate. We pull together community groups, agencies and businesses, and we inspire them to integrate this culture into everything they do with (and as) families. And to keep inventing the most fun and creative ways to do so.

It’s a growing, nationwide network of people whose influence can change thousands of lives, long term.

Will you join us?

Rhonda Brain, OAM

2017 Conference registration now open!

Conferences

6th Early Literacy Conference.

Climb every mountain: songlines and singing.

Paint the Town REaD Ltd together with our co-host, Paint the Blue REaD invite people interested in early literacy, children’s singing and collective impact in Aboriginal and/or mainstream practices to attend this Conference. We will be meeting on Darug and Gunungurra traditional lands.

3–5 May 2017
Carrington Hotel, Katoomba NSW

Registration for this exciting event is now open. Click here to find out more.

2017 Conference Sponsorship Now Available!

Conferences

We invite you to become a proud sponsor and be part of our 6th National Conference. This will give your organisation great exposure as the conference aims to bring together professionals from a wide range of disciplines supporting families with children 0-5years across the country. Our expected audience will include staff working in the following sectors:-

  • Early Childhood Care and Education
  • Library Programs/Services
  • Vulnerable Communities/Early Intervention & Prevention
  • Aboriginal Communities
  • Multicultural Communities
  • Schools
  • Local Communities

To find out more click here

Cuddle time with Puddles

Community

11882306_1648110565459423_221849918828306408_oA lovely post from Paint Hawkesbury REaD this week ‘Had a big cuddle with Puddles while at my sewing group at North Richmond Community Centre. What a wonderful promotion to encourage children to read. Love the concept! From Grandma Joan’

Thank you for sharing Puddles!

Paint the Swan REaD Annual Reading Week

General

Paint the Swan REaD invites you to get involved in our Annual Reading Week

Children’s Week October 24th – November 1st 2015

There will be a special focus on 4 communities in the City of Swan

1) Midland
2) Ellenbrook
3) Altone
4) Bullsbrook

Business or Shop owners!

  • Decorate your shop in red for Children’s Week.
  • Offer to read to children in your shop on 27th October.
  • Donate items for fundraisers or for the Reading Event.
  • Sponsor items for Reading week e.g. a Reading tent, books, library bags or stickers.

Libraries and Child and Family Services!

  • Host or Plan to include your service in activities in your area.

Families!

  • Take your children to join in the free and fun local activities.

Everyone!

  • Volunteer to join a local planning group for one of the 4 communities.
  • Where ever you are stop and read at 11am on 27th October!

For more information and to get involved in activities in your area ask for information at your local library, visit the Paint the Swan REaD Facebook site or contact Fiona Lee at CLAN Midland on 9250-6335