CHAI

MOVE

Men Opposing Violence Early (MOVE) is a volunteer driven, primary-prevention program for young children ages 4-7. In this program, men read picture books to young children in a variety of settings. The particular technique involved is called dialogical reading, a form of engaged reading that lends itself to participation in the narrative of the story and the internalization of pro-social themes. Studies of dialogical reading suggest that it improves literacy and for pre-school children, as well as improving overall school readiness.

The utilization of pro-social or "character building" books in this process is an outgrowth of the Social-Emotional Learning movement, a growing group of academics and educators who believe (with empirical support) that emotional development and the development of social skills are central to and in many cases pre-requisites of academic success. (For more information about Social-Emotional Learning go to www.casel.org).

MOVE was initially funded in 2000 as a pilot program in the Jewish Family Services Child Development Center. Currently, the MOVE program is being implemented in the following six sites:

• Sojourner Truth House
• Children's Lubavitch Living and Learning Center
• Mequon Jewish Preschool
• JCC Early Childhood Center
• Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue
• Milwaukee College Preparatory

For more information, contact Claire Fabric at 414-390-5800.