We’re on a mission to help young children achieve reading proficiency and develop a passion for learning.
68%
The percentage of US 4th grade public school children reading below proficiency levels.
72%
Chance that children in low literacy families will become stuck in intergenerational poverty.
3X
Children who are most engaged with literacy have three times higher mental wellbeing than least engaged children.
OUR PASSION
Improving literacy is not just about learning to read or enjoying cracking open a book to discover what’s inside. Literacy also involves active listening, ability to clearly communicate ideas in speech and writing, generating creative ideas and improving capacity for understanding, analyzing and inferring. As a community, higher literacy rates equate to lower crime, higher employment, higher salaries, and higher mental and physical health. This is why we are devoted to supporting and empowering children and their families, especially those in the greatest need, on their literacy journey.
“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.”
― Margaret Fuller
WHAT WE DO
Our Literacy Programs
Working independently and with partners, we create and administer research-backed literacy development programs that integrate technology. We modify the programs to meet academic needs, cultural attributes and family conditions of young children. We actively involve children, parents, teachers and other stakeholders to ensure the best possible design and learning experiences. When needed, we participate directly or indirectly in the distribution of books, improvement of literacy pedagogies, and development of social capital and economic systems to advance literacy and love of learning for children and their families.
We Invest in Science and Continual Research
We want to be confident that the products, learning systems and services we provide truly help children learn. That is why everything we do is built upon cognitive, neurological, optical, computer and other sciences related to developing literacy skills.
Our pilot programs involve academic and/or scientific research in partnership with universities and other research institutions to evaluate the efficacy of the edtech products, pedagogies, methodologies, book selections and related services. We use this research to refine our work into live programs.
Live programs are available for hyper-local to national distribution. We regularly conduct user and stakeholder quantitative and qualitative research to identify areas for improvement to ensure that our work sparks children’s passion for reading and learning.
We Deliver Innovation That Works
Beyond our science-backed learning system, what distinguishes us from other reading programs is our access to novel edtech product(s) that can be customized to work with any printed book, including those that may already be in your home or local elementary school. Currently, we utilize the Kibeam Wand Reading System created by Jim Marggraff, the inventor of the award-winning LeapPad®.
We Deliver Innovation That Works
Beyond our science-backed learning system, what distinguishes us from other reading programs is our access to novel edtech product(s) that can be customized to work with any printed book, including those that may already be in your home or local elementary school. Currently, we utilize the Kibeam Wand created by Jim Marggraff, the inventor of the award-winning LeapPad®.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
― Dr. Seuss
WHO WE ARE
-
Matt Brown
CEO
Matt is a polymath committed to creating a more humane, beautiful, abundant world. Throughout his distinctive career, he has applied the science of play to engage people of all ages and backgrounds in learning, connecting and creating individually and communally. -
Jim Marggraff
Advisor
Jim Marggraff is an entrepreneur with a big heart and a passion for education, family and community. He invented LeapFrog’s LeapPad, is Chair of the Global Impact Group, founded Livescribe, Eyefluence and most recently Kibeam, home of the Kibeam Wand which empowers kids to engage with printed books in new playful, educational ways. -
Paige Pullen
Advisor
Paige C. Pullen serves as the Chief Academic Officer and literacy principal at the Lastinger Center for Learning. She oversees the academics and research and evaluation teams, who are responsible for designing, implementing and evaluating the Lastinger Center’s early learning and literacy programs.
INTERESTED?
Donate
If you would like to invest in children’s literacy, please consider donating. Every hundred dollars enables us to deliver a Kibeam Wand and three pre-programmed books to a child as part of a pilot program.
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