Read from the Start: Early Literacy Activities and Resources for Librarians and Other Educotors
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 388 953 CS 012 301 AUTHOR Roeber, Jane A. TITLE Read from the Start: Early Literacy Activities and Resources for Librarians and Other Educotors. INSTITUTION Wisconsin State Dept. of Public Instructien, Madison. REPORT NO ISBN-1-57337-019-3 PUB DATE May 95 NOTE 148p.; Publication supported in part by Title Iof the Library Services and Construction Act. AVAILABLE FROM Publication Sales, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Drawer 179, Milwaukee, WI 53293-0179. PUB TYPE Reports Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC06 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Beginning Reading; Early Childhood Education; Learning Activities; *Library Services; *Literacy; Parent Child Relationship; Program Descriptions; Program Development; Resource Materials IDENTIFIERS *Emergent Literacy; Library Services and Construction Act ABSTRACT A compilation of information drawn from Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) grant applications and final evaluation reports submitted to the Wisconsin Division for Libraries and Community Learning, this book offers information that may be of practical value to other libraries wanting to establish their own emergent literacy programs. Chapter 1(Preparing for an Early Literacy Program) discusses how to use the book, the proactive public library, informing the community, and useful planning materials. Chapter 2 (Making a Difference to the Very Young: Reaching Out to Infants and Their Parents) addresses initial contacts with parents of newborns, programs for parents, and recommended books and audiovisual materials for ages newborn through 18 months. Chapter 3 (Focusing on Toddlers: Introducing the Library to Children Ages 18 Months through 3 Years and to Their Parents) presents kits for librarians, programs for parents, kits for parent and child, and collection and service enhancement. Chapter 4 (Working with Preschoolers: Providing Services to Children Ages 3 through 5 Years, Their Parents, Other Care Providers, and Teachers) discusses programs for care providers and teachers, kits for care providers and teachers, deposit collections, programs for parents, kits for parent and child, and collection and service enhancement. Chapter 5 (Targeting Beginning Readers; Giving Reinforcement to Children Ages 5 through 8 Years) presents five approaches. Appendixes list the librazies that carried out programs; annotations of 97 resources for parents, 122 professional materials, and 110 information sources and suppliers; notes on child development as related to appropriate early literacy activities in the library; and a glossary. (RS) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. *********************************************************************** en 1.1-1 C.T 00 oo en PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL kIAS BEEN GRANTED BY A.' Al TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES A- INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) I ALA A A.A. A_ I Api 0 US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educationai Rosonich and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) /Thisdocument has been reproducedas received from the person or organization originating it 0 Minor changes have been madeto improve reproduction quality r Points of view or opinions statedin this document do not necessarilyrepresent ii official OERI position or policy ___,10111W BEST COPY AVAILABLE Read from the Start: Early Literacy Activities and Resources for Librarians and Other Educators Jane A. Roeber Project Coordinator Division for Libraries and Community Learning DPI Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Madison, Wisconsin This publication was supported in part by Title I of the Library Services and Construction Act The quotation on the cover is taken from Emergent Literacy: Writing and Reading by William H. Tea le and Elizabeth Sulzby (Ablex Publishing, 1986). This publication is available from Publications Sales Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Drawer 179 Milwaukee, WI 53293-0179 (800) 243-8782 Bulletin No. 95341 © May, 1995 Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction ISBN 1-57337-019-3 The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability. Arl *c_0 l'rinted on recycled paper. 4 Contents Page Foreword Acknowledgments vii Preface ix 1 Preparing for an Early Literacy Program Vocabulary 2 Using This Guide 2 The Proactive Public Library 4 Informing the Community 6 Useful Planning Materials 13 2 Making a.Difference to the Very Young: Reaching Out to Infants and Their Parents Introduction 16 Initial Contacts with Parents of Newborns 17 Programs for Parents 20 Recommended Books and Audiovisual Materials for Ages Newborn through 18 Months 23 3 Focusing on Toddlers: Introducing the Library to Children Ages 18 Months through 3 Years and to Their Parents Introduction 32 Library Staff and Volunteer Training 39 Kits for Librarians 36 Programs for Parents 39 Kits for Parent, and Child 43 Collection and Service Enhancement 47 4 Working with Preschoolers: Providing Services to Children Ages 3 through 5 Years, Their Parents, Other Care Providers, and Teachers Introduction 56 Programs for Care Providers and Teachers 56 Kits for Care Providers and Teachers 59 Deposit Collections 73 Programs for Parents 76 Kits for Parent and Child 79 Collection and Service Enhancement 82 5 Targeting Beginning Readers: Giving Reinforcement to Children Ages 5 through 8 Years Introduction 90 Five Approaches 90 6 Appendixes Appendix A: LSCA-funded Reading Readiness Grants in Wisconsin, 1987-88 through 1992-93 96 Appendix B: Resources for Parents 105 Appendix C: Professional Materials 114 Appendix D: Sources and Suppliers 127 Appendix E: Notes on Child Development as Related to Appropriate Early Literacy Activities in the Library 134 Appendix F: Glossary 138 iv 6 Foreword Since 1993 the Department of Public Instruction has increased its attention to the needs of Wisconsin's youngest children. Parental and societal concerns and medical and educational research confirm the enormous importance of each child's earliest years. A truly nurturing environment from birth is necessary to prepare a child for success in school and in life. That environment includes activities that stimulate imagination, reward curiosity, and encourage exploration of language. When these conditionsare present a child will find joy in words and communicating. From there, learning to read is a natural stepand the abilitY to read is vital. J am pleased that the department's Division for Libraries and Community Learning has prepared Read from the Start: Early Literacy Activities and Resources for Librarians and Other Educators for publication at this time. Theprograms created by Wisconsin public librarians and described in this guide are exemplary models for others to follow. These librarians have put the good of the child first and foremost. They have achieved results by wise cooperation with parents and with educational and social services resources in their communities. Their programs embody the spirit of the African saying, "It takes a whole village to raise a child." I compliment and commend each person whose efforts are recorded here.I hope others will be .inspired by them.I thank the members of the Reading Readiness Resource Guide Advisory Committee who worked closely with division staff members to ensure a quality publication by contributing practical insights into its design and content.A special thanks to Jane Roeber who transformed the idea for this publication into reality. John T. Benson State Superintendent Acknowledgments Gratitude first must be expressed to the individuals who initiated and implemented the projects that are described in this guide and that were funded through the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA).Their shared belief in the importance of enlightened service to young children, and to their families and care providers, has had positive impact in their communities. Their activities deserve widespread recognition and emulation. Read from the Start makes some of their energy and insight accessible to interested readers: its preparation was enriched by the contributions of the people acknowledged below. Advisory Committee Five Wisconsin librarians played key roles in shaping Read from the Start. As members of the Reading Readiness Resource Guide Advisory Committee, they applied knowledge based on practical experiences to make constructive recommendations about the guide's structure and content. Furthermore, they were willing to spend significant amounts of time reviewing chapter drafts and providing detailed additions to bibliographies. Their commitment to this project is highly valued. Elizabeth Berkholtz Director Iola Village Library Iola, WI Carol Gibson System Coordinator. Manitowoc-Calumet Library System Manitowoc, WI Maureen Holmes Youth Services Librarian Waukesha Public Library Waukesha, WI Marge Loch-Wouters Youth Services Librarian Elisha D. Smith Public Library Menasha, WI Elizabeth Vollrath Youth Services Librarian Portage County Public Library Stevens Point, WI Department of Public Instruction Division for Libraries and Community Learning Gratitude also is due to division colleagues.Larry Nix, Bureau for Library Development director, gave strong and continuous support to Read from the Start from vii the very first discussions that explored the concept