Ready to Read Grant

Central Texas Library System, Inc.

1200 parents & teachers

14 public libraries & branches

3 Head Start agencies

September 2010 – August 2011

• Early literacy program developed by the Public Library Association & the Association of Library Service to Children

• Incorporates the latest research into a series of parent and caregiver workshops to provide public libraries with vital tools to help prepare parents for their critical role as their child's first teacher

• Workshops cover 6 early literacy skills, what they look like to preschool children, and what parents and teachers can do to help their children get ready to read.

Early Literacy Skills

Early literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they can read and write.

These are the six early literacy skills children need to know so they can be successful readers: 

Tell a StoryBeing able to describe

things and events, and tell stories Learn Words

 Knowing the names ofthings

Love BooksBeing interested in and

enjoying books

Hear SoundsBeing able to hear and playwith the smaller sounds of

words

See LettersKnowing letters are different

from each other, knowing letter names and sounds Use Books

Understanding that print has meaning; noticing print

everywhere, not just in books; knowing how to handle a book

Goals

Raise Early literacy rates in low income households

Educate Parents/teachers on importance of reading to young children

Foster Public library and Head Start partnerships to strengthen community’s literacy and

educational continuum

Establish Public library as a vital early

literacy resource to parents and caregivers

HILL COUNTRY COMMUNITY ACTIONHarker Heights Public Library

EEOC

Marlin Public LibraryWaco-McLennan County Public Library

Head Start Partners

CENTRAL TEXAS 4C

Belton – Lena Armstrong Public LibraryKilleen Public LibraryTemple Public Library

Libraries with no Head Start

Hewitt Public LibraryMcGregor – McGinley Memorial Library

Salado Public LibraryValley Mills Public Library

66,000 Total project funding from IMLS & Texas State Library20,000 Early literacy info for parents, teachers & libraries5,000 Friends of the Waco-McLennan County Library donation1,400 Parents & teachers trained – focus on disadvantaged1,400 Books for parents80 Training sessions offered by libraries45 Length of training sessions – 45 minutes to 1 hour30 Spanish picture books for each library1.5 Estimated number of hours/week/library

By the Numbers

Learn – Reach - Teach

LEARN - Public library staff learn to teach the three early literacyskills classes. Parents, caregivers and teachers learn early literacytips to help their children get ready to read.

REACH - Public library staff reach out into the community - primarily with Head Start agencies - to schedule early literacy classes to parents and to promote library services that support early literacy

TEACH - Public library staff teach the classes to parents, teachers and caregivers

• Manages grant• Set up partnerships with Head Start

agencies• Provides training to librarians• Purchases, creates, distributes all print

materials, training, publicity• Produces quarterly project newsletter• Program support

Who Does What – CTLS

• Promote program to teachers & center directors

• Meet with library staff to plan engaging and fun parent classes

• Allow libraries to present training at monthly parent classes

• Work with libraries to promote classes to families

• Provide translators for parent classes

• Gather follow-up surveys from parents

• Invite library staff to present classes at staff in-service days

Who Does What – Head Start

• Attend training and planning meetings

• Learn to teach the early literacy class

• Identify local partners

• Provide training to Head Start centers – both to parents at parent meetings and to teachers on in-service days

• Provide training to other agencies & groups

• Promote the program within the library

• Submit stats monthly

Who Does What – Library Staff

Timeline

LEARNLibrary staff learns to teach the early literacy class. Head Start staff are invited to attend. Training and materials are free.  

Sept-Dec 2010

REACH

Library staff reaches out into the community to set up training sessions for the parents served by Head Start, schools and other agencies. Classes are 45-60 minutes long. We estimate that this project will take 1½ hours per week for library staff.

Oct-Dec 2010

TEACH

Library staff teaches the classes to parents and teachers who then learn early literacy games to help their children get ready to read.  Teachers receive free CPE ; parents receive a free children’s book (English and/or Spanish) for each class they attend.  Most classes are held January to April.

Jan-Apr

2011

KEEP

To keep the program going, libraries will weave early literacy skills into their storytimes.  The project will provide storytime materials like puppets and games.  Libraries can also provide classes at teacher in-service days. Twenty-nine CTLS libraries use the program now, in storytime and/or in parent classes.. 

Mar-Aug 2011

How Will It Matter?

90% Parents will read more to their children

85% Community partners will say that you offered easy-to-use early literacy ideas they can use their classrooms.

85% Community partners will say that your friendliness, flexibility and reliability were key assets in the partnership

80% Parents will enjoy sharing books more with their children

80% Percent of teachers will appreciate that your early literacy message confirms what they already teach their parents

50% Percent of parents and teachers plan to use the library more after coming to your classes

What to Count

1. Contacts with local partners2. Workshops & attendance3. Workshop evaluations4. Local publicity & marketing 5. Follow-up evaluations –

mailed by Head Start

How to Keep Up

www.CTLS.net

http://readytoread.pbworks.com

Questions