At Memphis Striving Readers, we are dedicated to enhancing literacy in our community through various programs. Whether you are a parent, volunteer, or community member, there are numerous ways to engage with us and support our mission.

If you have questions or need assistance, we are here to help. You can reach out to us through the following methods:

We invite you to join us in our efforts to promote literacy and foster a love for reading in Memphis. Together, we can make a difference!

Printing Reading Materials at Home: Notes on Using an Inkjet Like the Canon PIXMA TS8320

Many families and volunteers in our programs ask whether a home printer is worth having for literacy work. A mid-range photo inkjet such as the Canon PIXMA TS8320 is a common choice. It is an all-in-one model that prints, scans and copies, and it is aimed at households that want good colour output for photos and school projects. If you are weighing up a printer like this, it helps to think less about the machine itself and more about how you will actually use it to support a young reader.

What home printing is good for

  • Practice sheets and word lists: Sight-word cards, phonics worksheets and short decodable passages can be printed as needed, so a child always has fresh material at the right level.
  • Homemade books: Children often read more eagerly when the story is about them. Print a few family photos, add simple sentences underneath, then staple the pages into a small book.
  • Scanning progress: The scanner on an all-in-one lets you keep a copy of a child's writing samples over the months, which makes it easy to see growth and to share work with a tutor.

Practical things to consider

Ink is usually the ongoing cost with any inkjet, and models with several separate colour cartridges let you replace only the colour that runs out. For most worksheets, printing in black only or in draft mode saves ink. Double-sided printing reduces paper use for longer passages. Inkjets that sit unused for weeks can develop clogged nozzles, so printing a small page now and then keeps them working. Before buying, compare current prices and cartridge costs from several retailers, and check the manufacturer's support pages for setup guides and driver downloads.

You do not need a printer to help a child read

A printer is a convenience, not a requirement. Library books, a notebook and a pencil, and ten minutes of reading aloud together each day do more than any device. Our reading resources include ideas that need no equipment at all, and our family programs offer materials and guidance so every household can take part, whatever tools they have at home.