Notes from Mrs. Richardson
Stories from our classrooms, book giveaways and the people who make this work possible.
Oct 14, 2026Memphis Made: Our History, Our Stories, Our FutureOne of the things we're especially proud of at Reading With Mrs. Richardson is that our Grahamwood students are learning through our very own Memphis Made literacy curriculum and workbook, an original educational resource we developed to connect reading, writing, critical thinking, and local history. đź“š Memphis Made: Our original literacy curriculum brings Memphis history to life while strengthening students' reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. But Memphis Made wasn't created just...
Oct 14, 2026Building Home Libraries, One Book at a Time: A Summer and Fall of Giving 📚❤️At Reading With Mrs. Richardson, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to experience the joy of owning a brand-new book. Not just borrowing one from a classroom or library, but having a book of their very own to read, treasure, and revisit whenever they choose. Over the summer and into the fall, we've continued turning that belief into action by placing hundreds of new books directly into the hands of children and families throughout Memphis and Shelby County. And thanks to our...
Sep 13, 2026I Am Mary Anna’s Wildest Dream: Why Literacy Is Personal to MeWhen people ask me why literacy matters so much to me, I can talk about reading scores. I can talk about book deserts. I can talk about the thousands of books Reading With Mrs. Richardson has placed into the hands of children. But the real answer goes much deeper than numbers. It starts with my great-grandmother, Mary Anna Dickerson. My paternal great-grandmother, Mary Anna Wilson Dickerson as a young woman. Mary Anna died in her 50's of ovarioan cancer never learning how to read or write....
Jun 24, 2026Reading With Mrs. Richardson Awarded $15,000 Neighborhood Partnership Grant from the City of MemphisWe are honored and grateful to announce that Reading With Mrs. Richardson has been awarded a $15,000 Neighborhood Partnership Grant (NPG) through the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development's FY27 Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF). This investment reflects the City's commitment to supporting neighborhood-based organizations that create meaningful opportunities for Memphis residents and strengthen communities from within. The FY27 SCIF program awarded nearly $6...
Dec 26, 2025Spreading Christmas Joy, One Book at a TimeThere’s something truly special about giving a child a book for Christmas. It’s more than a gift; it’s a message that says, you matter, your story matters, and your future is bright. Students at Grahamwood Elementary choose books for Christmas. This holiday season, Reading With Mrs. Richardson had the joy of spreading that message across multiple schools and communities, making sure students had books of their very own to unwrap and keep. At Millington Early Learning Center , we gifted 140...
Dec 10, 2025Books, Beats & Bloom: What a Way to Wrap Up Our Final Weekend!We just wrapped up our last Books, Beats & Bloom weekend, and our hearts are honestly so full. A huge shoutout to Raleigh Egypt Middle School and Principal Dr. Curry for letting us use the school space. You made it possible for our kids to learn, grow, and create in a space where they already feel seen. This weekend, our students dove into the world of Stax Records , and they were all in. We talked about how Stax shaped music and the arts for people of color during the Civil Rights...
Nov 5, 2025Honoring the Legacy of The Memphis 13At Reading With Mrs. Richardson , we’re all about bringing stories to life, real stories, the kind that make you stop, think, and feel proud of where we’ve come from. During our second Books, Beats & Bloom session at Raleigh Egypt Middle School , we had one of those unforgettable moments. Our guest was Ms. Dwania Kyles , one of the brave students known as The Memphis 13, the first group of Black first graders to integrate Memphis City Schools back in 1961. Imagine being just six years old,...
Oct 5, 2025From "I Am a Man" to "We Still Stand": A Powerful Kickoff to Books, Beats & BloomOn Saturday, we officially launched our first session of Books, Beats & Bloom: A Literacy Pop-Up Experience —and it was nothing short of transformational. Held at Raleigh Egypt Middle School, our focus was on the historic 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers' Strike, but the conversations, creativity, and energy from our youth proved that history is still very much alive. 🖼️ Walking Through History Students began the session with a gallery walk featuring powerful images from the Memphis...
Sep 30, 2025Building Literacy, One Family at a TimeThis month, Reading With Mrs. Richardson was honored to partner with Sweet Cheeks Diaper Ministry to bring the joy of reading into the homes of families across Memphis. Together, we provided more than 300 brand-new diverse books to children and families during their diaper distribution event. Students from St. Mary's prepare books for a giveaway. Each family not only received a book to encourage a love of reading at home but also a special teddy bear thanks to the Build-A-Bear Foundation....
Aug 31, 2025Woodstock Soul: Oral History from the School That Raised UsThere’s something magical happening, y’all, and I had to let you in on it! We’re working on a project that’s been years in the making in...
Aug 28, 2025Rooted in Reading: Summer 2025 Book Giveaway Plants Seeds of Literacy Across MemphisThis summer, Reading With Mrs. Richardson proudly distributed over 2,000 culturally relevant books to children across Memphis and the...
Jan 13, 2025A Semester of Growth, Gratitude, and Literacy ImpactFall 2023 Recap: Empowering Young Scholars at Raleigh Egypt Middle School Students from Raleigh Egypt Middle pose after a daily session....
Nov 18, 2024Welcome to the Readvolution!Hey friends,We’re so excited to share some BIG news with you! 📣 Reading With Mrs. Richardson has officially launched our first-ever...
Apr 25, 2024The Impact of Reading: 2023 ReportCelebrating Success: Reading With Mrs. Richardson's 2023 Impact Report At Reading With Mrs. Richardson, we believe in the transformative...
Nov 18, 2023Adventures in Literacy Across Shelby CountyMeet Amir and Zuri, twin second graders who just moved to Shelby County. Follow their adventures as they ride, bounce, and jook around...
Nov 18, 2023"Empowering Minds: Navigating the Pages of a Literacy Festival"March 2023 we held our inagural Literacy Festival! Reading with Mrs. Richardson organized a free festival that welcomed 150 students from...
Feb 26, 2023Giving Camp Gave Me LIFE!#GiveCampMemphis was AWESOME! I am truly grateful for what this organization offers. Left to Right: Storm O'Bryant, Andrea Churchville,...
Mar 29, 2022My personal superhero!Happy retirement, daddy. For as long as I can remember, my dad's name has always been associated with being a police officer. As a kid, I...
Mar 29, 2022From Journalist to EducatorWhen I decided to leave television, I knew I wanted to continue my love of authentic storytelling. I was so fortunate to be able to do...
Mar 29, 2022Country LivingGrowing up in the country is one of my favorite experiences as a child. My maternal grandad, Arthur Young (AY), Sr.'s old barn My chores...