• City of Norfolk

    NPS Literacy Promises to...
    Build a community of readers, writers, communicators, and critical thinkers.
    Provide families with access to free online evidence-based literacy instruction resources to support their child's literacy development at home.

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    Book Access
    Ensure all students have access to diverse books that are mirrors and windows.
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    Community Partnerships
    Work with community partners to promote reading and writing across the city of Norfolk.
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    Celebrate
    Provide opportunities to recognize and celebrate literacy accomplishments.

    Community Events

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    All Norfolk Reads

    Little Rhino: My New Team

    Step up to the plate for a grand reading adventure! Join Little Rhino as he faces new challenges, makes new friends, and learns what it truly means to be part of a team in Little Rhino: My New Team by Ryan Howard and Krystle Howard. From March 7 to March 26, all NPS students and their families, PreK through 5th grade, will read tog

    Little Rhino Family Guide
     
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    Tidewater Writing Project: "Teachers as Writers"

    The Tidewater Writing Project (TWP) is hosting Reading/Writing Continuity Sessions to cultivate teachers' interest and promote "teachers as writers" through personal writing and creative expression opportunities in a variety of genres. During Fall 2024 and Spring 2025, Reading/Writing sessions will be offered in mixed format (virtual or in-person) focusing on engaging in personal writing, learning writing techniques modeled after selected books, and writing lesson ideas that can be implemented in teachers' classrooms. 

    All sessions are free of charge!

    Teachers, please visit and contact the Tidewater Writing Project for more information! 

    Community Partnerships

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    Friends of the Norfolk Public Library

    Book Review Contest

    Friends of the Norfolk Public Libraries

    Friends of the Norfolk Public Library is a community partner with Norfolk Public Schools that champions literacy initiatives throughout the City of Norfolk.  Each year, Norfolk Public Students participate in their Book Review Contest. This annual contest encourages reading, writing, and critical thinking as well as wider use of the library. It's open to grades 4-12 and includes public, private, and home-schooled students. 
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    Norfolk Rotary Club

    One of the Rotary Club's most popular annual programs is Career Day where students from Norfolk Public Schools are given an opportunity to "shadow" a Rotarian and explore a possible career path.  Afterwards, the students write reflective essays to summarize their day and the things they have learned.  They are treated to a Norfolk Rotary lunch where snippets of the students' papers are read and four are awarded a gift card. 

    Partner with NPS Literacy

    Do you want to join efforts in improving literacy outcomes for all students in Norfolk Public Schools?  Connect with us!  To become a partner email LaEunice Brown, lbrown405@nps.k12.va.us.

    Book Access

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    NPS School Libraries

    Students may visit their school's media center to check out books, but they also have online access to ebooks, interactive books, and audiobooks. Click on the link to see what NPS libraries have to offer.

    NPS Library Media Catalogs 
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    Norfolk Public Libraries

    Students have access to online texts and print texts through Norfolk Public libraries.
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    REACH 

    REACH, Inc. promotes literacy for children throughout Coastal Virginia through access and ownership of books. The Big Free Bookstore located at Janaf Shopping Center in Norfolk, provides quality books and educational literature readily available to the community at no cost. 

    The Big Free Bookstore guidelines:

    • Two new and two used per person, per household (not all members of the household need to be present).

    • Visit up to two times per week.

    REACH: The Big Free Bookstore