| Early Literacy Initiative - What libraries can do - Programming |
|
|
 |
| What libraries can do |
|
- Early Literacy materials/collections
- Atmosphere/children's environments
- Programming
Jump to Steps you can take
Jump to Further ideas/resources
- Training and staff development
|
| Programming |
|
You can also download this list as a handy checklist in a Microsoft Word document or a PDF document.
Steps you can take
INPUT: Programming
To ensure that all libraries provide high quality early literacy programs…
| First Steps |
Next Steps |
Giant Steps |
Offer storytimes for preschoolers
Add a preschooler’s component to your Summer Reading Program
|
Storytimes
Offer baby storytimes
Offer toddler storytimes
Offer storytimes in the library for visiting groups from early education sites and child care facilities
Other Children’s Programs
Integrate a book giveaway component into a program
Offer the Teen Version of the Statewide Summer Reading Program in conjunction with the Read To Me component for teen parents and their children
Explore the use of trained volunteers in order to expand your children’s programming
Literacy Training
Offer early literacy programs for parents and caregivers
Community Outreach
Offer storytimes at early education sites and child care facilities
Host a gathering of early literacy community partners (see sample agenda )
Explore local business and community support for giveaway books
|
Storytimes
Offer developmentally appropriate storytimes for:
- Babies 0-12 months
- Tiny Tots 12-24 months
- Toddlers 24-36 months
- Preschoolers 36-60 months
- Family Time for children of all ages
- Bilingual Spanish
Offer storytimes in the library in languages other than English
Offer StoryStop – spontaneous opportunities to read aloud to children anytime during library’s open hours
Offer storytimes at social service agencies, early education sites and child care facilities
Offer programming (storytimes) at summer lunch sites
Other Children’s Programs
Offer sign language for babies workshops (Baby Sign)
Offer music workshops
Offer physical movement sessions (sessions that integrate language, literacy and movement)
Add a Read To Me component to your Summer Reading Program
Create a school readiness program or fair for parents of incoming kindergarteners
Train foster grandparents, teens or other volunteers to expand your children’s programs
Create a Read to the Dogs program: reading encouragement for the reluctant reader
Evaluate all of your programs to prove their effectiveness
Literacy Training
Offer teen parent programs
Offer Early Words sessions for parents and caregivers
Offer Every Child Ready To Read @ Your Library sessions
Offer a book group for parents to read and discuss parenting books
Offer Early Words or Every Child Ready to Read workshops for parents in the library or in social service and community agencies to reach highest need families
Partner with elementary schools to offer parent workshops in early literacy for families with kindergarten and first grade children and their younger siblings
Work with the Oregon Center for Career Development in Child Care and Education to get your workshops approved for educational credit hours to satisfy the Child Care Division requirements
Community Outreach
Explore outreach to more partners (like health care)
Convene a meeting of early childhood partners to discuss a collaborative project
Host an early childhood fair at your library or, if there is one in existence, set up a booth for the library
Propose a session at your local Association for the Education of Young Children conference or other early childhood professional group to discuss early literacy partnerships with child care providers in your community
Offer newborn gift packets to all first births, including a free book and Baby’s First Library Card
Outreach through food banks – provide books in bags of food
Outreach programs to Head Start
Outreach for library card recruitment to low income housing developments and migrant worker camps
Partner with health care providers to provide books to children birth to 5 years and prescriptions for their parents to read with them 20 minutes a day
Work with all high schools to talk to teen parents about the importance of reading aloud with their children
Advocate for an early literacy component to the core curriculum of the Department of Education (to enhance teen parent programs)
Arrange for a speaker about early literacy research or the economic benefit of investing in early childhood programs; collaborate with other organizations to sponsor event
|
VISION: All children ready to learn to read when they begin kindergarten.
|
| Further ideas/resources |
|
Looking for more ideas on how to improve your library's atmosphere and children's area? Check out some of these additional resources:
- About the Initiative - Early Literacy surveys
The results of these surveys include ideas about what libraries are doing in Early Literacy.
- About the Initiative - Regional meeting notes
During the nine regional meetings that were conducted for this project, we asked libraries and community partners for ideas on how to promote Early Literacy. The notes include some great suggestions for how to improve your early childhood programs.
- About the Initiative - Environmental scan
This document includes pertinent research and facts, data sources and reports on Early Literacy, best practices, training materials, media coverage, Early Literacy toolkits, and more.
- What libraries are doing - Programming
See the great children's programming Oregon libraries have already developed to help promote Early Literacy skills.
- What libraries are doing - Community partnerships and outreach
See how libraries are using innovative partnerships and outreach efforts to reach out to children, families, and caregivers.
- Additional Early Literacy resources
Look into our carefully selected list of Early Literacy online resources.
- Additional Resources - Activities, handouts, and library programs
Find lists of suggested activities and games, handouts for parents and caregivers, and websites for several exemplary public library programs in Early Literacy.
- Ready to Read grant projects
See how other public libraries have been using their Ready to Read grant monies to improve services to children.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
