In our latest All 99 feature, we’re excited to introduce the Smith-Sanders family in Graymont, Kyla, her nearly 3-year-old son Xavion, and baby Xa’Riyah on the way, whose everyday reading routines and love of the neighborhood library are helping their home grow with curiosity and connection.
Small Magic is launching a nationally acclaimed survey in Jefferson County for anyone raising or caring for a child under age five.
In our latest All 99 feature, we’re delighted to introduce the Sherrell-Goodwin family, a multigenerational household in the heart of Birmingham whose bond is as deep as their shared commitment to learning.
We’re looking for a partner to help bring a new early literacy curriculum to life.
Reading is one of the most powerful skills a child can gain, and it starts with a foundation in phonics. Phonics is the key to unlocking written language. It teaches children the relationships between letters and sounds, allowing them to break down words and gain confidence in reading. Without effective phonics instruction, children may struggle to decode words, impacting their ability to read fluently and limiting their future opportunities.
In the earliest years of life, a child’s brain develops quickly. By age five, a child’s brain is about 90% of its adult size, and the words they hear during this critical window play a fundamental role in shaping their cognitive and social development. However, not all children have the same opportunities to build strong language skills from the start. This disparity is known as the “word gap”, a crucial early literacy challenge that affects millions of children, particularly those in lower-income communities.
At Small Magic, we believe real change starts small. And for the past five years, we’ve seen that change unfold in ways that are truly inspiring as we have grown from a hopeful idea to a community-driven force for early childhood education. Read our annual report to see how your support has made a difference and what’s next for Small Magic.