Word Rebel

MISSION AND PROGRAMS

Word Rebel’s mission is to close the preschool readiness gap. Our programs empower parents to teach children 1,100 words before preschool – regardless of limited time, money and other socioeconomic barriers.

WHY 1,100 WORDS?

The most accurate predictor of whether or not a child will graduate from high school on time is the number of words they know when they start preschool. This is true regardless of household income, parent education level, access to quality schools or environmental factors. No school-age intervention has ever closed the preschool readiness gap or achievement gap because reading must start from birth. What happens when every child learns 1,100 words by preschool? Every child masters the foundational reading skills they need to succeed through high school graduation; Household income does not define a child’s longterm success; We close the preschool readiness gap and achievement gap before they start.

HOW WE CLOSE THE GAP

We donate books to build children’s home libraries, and enroll parents in an entire year of weekly literacy emails and text messages containing eBooks and evidence-based strategies that make it easy for parents to teach literacy skills on-the-go. To reach children before preschool, we partner with subsidized daycares who provide free care to children living in poverty in New York City.