Tuesday, March 31, 2009

In Case You Missed It

Minnesota Reading Corps is Recruiting for 2009-2010

The Minnesota Reading Corps is working to fill 400 positions statewide for next school year.
Position descriptions and the application are available online now. Positions start in August.

The North Central Region is headquartered in Grand Rapids and currently serves nine Kindergarten-Grade 3 sites, and 10 preschool sites. Click here for a list.

Monday, March 30, 2009


Chippy the Project Read Chipmunk joined dads and their children, aged 5 months to 9 years, at the Northome FRED event sponsored by the Northome School PTO and the Eagleview Community Foundation.


To enjoy activities from the favorite book of the evening, Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson, check out the author's web site.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

E-Mail Blog Delivery Now Available

I was getting ready to write a tutorial on how to subscribe to blog feeds when I stumbled on a really simple, and free, service.

If you'd like to receive e-mail updates of the Project Read blog, instead of checking it every day, just enter your e-mail address in the box to the right and click on "subscribe." After you enter the anti-spam verification code you'll receive a verification e-mail. Click on the link in that e-mail and you'll never miss a post.

Toni

Copy and Paste Parent Tips

Do we like Math? Yes we do!

Developing early number skills now will help your child enjoy, and succeed, in math class later. Young children need to experience a lot of 'doing' and 'saying' before written numerals will make sense to them. Here are some tips for helping your young person build a strong early numeracy base.

Measuring
Children enjoy telling us that they are "bigger" than their sister or brother or "taller" than the lamp or that they are "higher" than the dog. But, young children will also think that they have "more" in their cup simply because their cup is taller.

The bathtub is a great place to ask "Which holds more?" Using a variety of plastic cups and containers your child can experiment by pouring water from one container to another. The taller container doesn't always hold more.

Classification
Classification is just another word for sorting, and young children need a lot of experience with objects before they enter school and are asked to transfer their skills to paper and pencil tasks.

Use blocks to create patterns for your child to duplicate-blue, red, yellow, blue, red, yellow, etc. When you don't have toys handy you can ask your child to help you think of everything that you can ride on, that swims, or flies.

Matching
As early as 2 years of age, many children will parrot the words "one," "two," "three," "four," "five" etc. However, rarely do they understand that a number refers to an item or a set of items. At this stage, children need to do a lot of experimenting, with you there to help with the words to describe what's happening.

Children need to "match sets" before they will understand that counting is actually referring to numbers of things. Start with piles of the same number of objects, then take turns with your child taking one object at a time. Soon she will discover that two of dad's great big boots might be bigger than hers, but there are still two boots to go on two feet.

More Pre-Number Activities
Draw a number of circles (faces) and put down a number of buttons for eyes. Ask your child if there are enough eyes for the faces and how he can find out. Repeat this activity for mouths and noses. Use phrases like "more than" and "less than" or "as many as". Ask "How can we find out?"

Arrange everyday items like a toothbrush, spoon, a toy and an apple on a cookie sheet. Ask your child to look away, rearrange the items to see if she realizes the number of items is still the same or if she thinks it's different.

Long before children can count to 100, they are learning the skills that underlie the important mathematical concepts that they'll use in school and beyond. Whether you really enjoy Math, or have to pretend a bit, introducing number skills with the activities above can be fun for both you and your child.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Quotable

Good children's literature appeals not only to
the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.
~ Anonymous ~

Friday, March 27, 2009

Friday Fun


Fun with socks?
Toddlers love handling everyday objects, especially if they belong to the adults they love. Here are few ideas for yet another day stuck inside while we wait for fine spring weather.


WHAT’S INSIDE THE SOCK?
Place a familiar object inside a large sock.
Let your toddler feel the outside of the sock.
Have him try to guess what is inside the sock by its shape and feel.



QUIET FEET
Help your child slip on large socks over her shoes.
Then show her how to slide over the kitchen floor.
Variation: Have your child take off her shoes and slide in her own socks.

SOCK SORT
Give your toddler a pile of two colors of socks to sort into two color piles.
Or give him a pile of two sizes of socks to sort into two size piles.

SOCK TOSS
Roll up three or four socks into balls.
Set out your laundry basket on the floor.
Have your toddler practice tossing the sock balls into the basket.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Closing the Achievement Gap

At today's Project Read meeting Jim Woehrle from Kootasca shared some startling information on the "achievement gap" in Itasca and Koochiching Counties. Jim was spurred to put together some stats for our area after listening to a presentation at the "Minnesota Meeting." Click HERE to listen to the Minnesota Public Radio recording of the event.

From MPR: As Minnesota lawmakers spar over the state's education budget, two education experts discuss what Minnesota can do to close the achievement gap between white students and students of color.

Kati Haycock is the president of Education Trust, an organization based in Washington, D.C. that advocates for young people, especially those who are poor or members of minority groups.

Rudy Crew is a former school district superintendent and the author of "Only Connect: The Way to Save Our Schools."

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Monthly Meeting Thursday

The monthly Project Read meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, March 26 at 8:00 AM at the District #318 Administration Building, rm 135. If you're reading this blog you could be a Project Read Partner. Join us at the meeting to see just how easy it is to include early literacy messages in activities your organization is already doing.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Do you have children's books to share?

Please help Project Read collect thousands of used children’s books to share with area families:

Books in good condition for babies, toddlers, preschoolers & elementary kids

Now until April 15th; books to be given away at Children First! Fair on April 25th

Young children who are read to
every day become better readers!

COLLECTION SITES: Forest Lake Elementary, Cohasset Elementary, St. Joseph’s Elementary, Van Dyke Elementary, Ogles, Cub Foods, Zion Lutheran Church, St. Joseph’s Church, Community Presbyterian Church, Step Ahead.

If you'd like to host a collection site contact Jaci at stepahead@qwestoffice.net She'll make sure your books are picked up and delivered to the fair.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Funding Opportunity

The Sheltering Arms Foundation is offering grants (up to $1,000) to Minnesota Episcopal congregations supporting their efforts in building potential for vulnerable children.

SAF will support projects that help congregations improve the lives of children, youth and their families. This could be a program run by the congregation on behalf of its own children, should they fall into that category, or a program doing outreach to families in need. The funds could also support advocacy efforts within the congregation on behalf of vulnerable children.

The application is due April 1, 2009. Click here to go to the Sheltering Arms web site. The SAF also makes grants to nonprofit organizations, the next round of those grants will be in 2010.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Copy and Paste Parent Tips

Reading with Wiggly Kids

When your baby or toddler wants to be on the move, that's what is going to happen. But, it doesn't mean you can't have some valuable book time together. Here are a few tips to help out:

Select Sleepy Times-There are times when even the most active toddler slows down, like during a meal or after a bath. Have books handy near the high chair or bed and take advantage of having a few moments of his attention.

Let Her Play-Let her handle board or cloth books any way she wants. Like working out a puzzle, toddlers will spend time trying to understand how a book works. Being able to turn the pages is an early literacy skill. You can help her enjoy books by playing games like passing the book back and forth. Play peek-a-boo by covering up a picture and saying "Where's the ______?", uncover and say "there's the_____________."

Go Off Book- If your wiggly toddler would rather turn pages himself, missing a few or going backwards, that's OK. Deviate from the story and identify pictures. Ask questions like "What is that? What do you think he's going to do next? Why is she sad?"

The key is always to make books something your child enjoys with you, not a chore-for either of you.


Saturday, March 21, 2009

Quotable

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read."
Mark Twain

Friday, March 20, 2009

Friday Fun

It's Friday, and Fridays are for fun.

Here's a cute video of the classic Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Powerful Picture Books

I lifted this out of a long research article on how to use picture books with early readers in the elementary school classroom. There's a lesson here for early literacy-Don't put those beautiful picture books away too soon. Even completely wordless books build important visual literacy skills.

From Using Picture Books To Support Young Children's Literacy (Strasser and Slepocha, Childhood Education, summer 2007)

"Picture books not only expose young children to words and pictures, they also provide the following experiences that support learning how to read:

* Holding Attention: with powerful, vivid illustrations
* Accommodating Difference: within the developmental differences of individual children
* Giving Pleasure: within an intellectually stimulating context
* Challenging the Brain: as the brain seeks patterns out of the complexity of stimulation from text and illustrations at the same time
* Provoking Conversation: hearing stories increases children's vocabulary
* Connecting Experiences: from home and family to stories"

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Links We Love: Between the Lions


Between the Lions a PBS Kids show, has a great companion web site. Check out their Parents and Teachers page for downloadable songs to play on the go, and videos indexed by the reading concepts taught. Beware, watch When Two Vowels Go Walking and you'll be singing it all day!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Even if you're not Irish there are good reasons to take note of St. Patrick's Day, and other special days on the calendar, with your preschooler. Knowing the legends and customs associated with these days help young children accumulate the background knowledge and vocabulary they need to be good readers. Try reading the word leprechaun, using only what you know about phonics (sounding it out). Now imagine that someone helps you pronounce the word, but you have no idea that it refers to a little man with a pot of gold!

There's no need to buy decorations, or make a big deal of days that aren't that special to you personally. Just take a moment to read a book or sing a song. Here's one to try. Sing it to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb."

The Leprechaun Song
I'm a little leprechaun, leprechaun, leprechaun. I'm a little leprechaun, who likes to hide my gold.
I dress in green from head to toe, head to toe, head to toe. I dress in green from head to toe, I wear green all day long.
You'll never catch me or my gold, or my gold, or my gold. You'll never catch me or my gold, I hide it much too well.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Coleraine Seuss Celebration Rescheduled


To Celebrate Dr.Seuss' Birthday, we have rescheduled the family reading party at the Coleraine Public Library for Tuesday the 17th! Readers of all ages are invited to read, rhyme and toss, walk and win, on Foot Book words. Make One Fish Two Fish necklaces, eat birthday cake and much more…Please join us Tuesday, March 17th from 6:00-8:00 P.M.
Sponsored by Community Ed

Minnesota Reading Corps Recruiting for '09-'10 School Year

The Minnesota Reading Corps is working to fill 400 positions statewide for next school year.
Position descriptions and the application are available online now. Positions start in August.

The North Central Region is headquartered in Grand Rapids and currently serves nine Kindergarten-Grade 3 sites, and 10 preschool sites. Click here for a list.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Copy and Paste Parent Tips

Alphabetic Knowledge
What it is: Recognizing upper and lower case letters, knowing the names of letters, knowing the sounds that go with letters, being able to print letters.

How to encourage it:

* Sing alphabet songs.
* Read alphabet books.
* Say the letters of your child's name as you print the letters.
* Help your child find the letters on signs, in books, and on the keyboard. Print the letters.
* Repeat letter sounds. "M" goes MMMM. "B" goes BBBB.
* Play with letters. Use magnetic letters with your preschooler and make simple words on the refrigerator. Play with alphabet blocks and alphabet puzzles.
* Draw letters in the sand. Trace letters on sand paper. Make letters with play dough.
* Play with same and different sounds (phone ring tones, 2 claps and 3 claps) and pictures (horse, pig, bird, and barn). Later on, this will help your child tell the difference between p, d, b, and q.
* Play language games that match letters to letters and letters to sounds.
* Encourage drawing and writing in daily activities.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Quotable

A love of books, of holding a book, turning its pages, looking at its pictures, and living its fascinating stories goes hand-in-hand with a love of learning. --Laura Bush

Friday, March 13, 2009

Friday Fun

It's Friday, and Fridays are for fun.

Here's the original 1969 animation of Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Qwest Foundation Grants

The Qwest Foundation awards grants that generate high impact and measurable results through community-based programs in the area of pre-K through 12 education. Qwest accepts applications on an ongoing basis. Awards generally range from $5,000-$10,000.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Are you as smart as a preschooler?

Thinking there was no "correct" answer, researchers showed preschoolers this picture and asked "Which way is the school bus going?"



The preschoolers all pointed to the left. Do you know why?

The researchers didn't either, so they asked the children "How do you know the bus is going that way?" Their answer- "Because you can't see the door."

This story, and very similar tales using the same picture, have been circulating on the Internet since at least 2006. I wasn't able to find out if it really started with academic researchers or not-but I like the point it makes. Preschoolers are always observing and absorbing things they see and hear. The things we find routine, like the morning trip to the daycare and on to work, are still new and fascinating to them. Even when they're not asking us "Why?" they are busy figuring it out for themselves.
----Toni Wilcox

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Greenway Area FRED event

Tuesday, March 03, 2009
The Coleraine Arena was filled with smiles and laughter as over 120 residents “skated with the legends.” Some were first-time skaters, some pros, some hockey players, and some who just love skating, but all had one thing in common: a dad, grandpa, or uncle who cared about them to bring them skating! Participants enjoyed a free meal donated by Project READ and prepared by Dusty Ross. The Greenway Hockey players skated and interacted with our younger raiders. Pro-hockey player, Mike Antonovich, read the group a story about growing up to be a hockey player! Pat Guyer led the group in a choral reading of “Leo the Late Bloomer” and the back room of the arena was filled with male voices in unison….a heartwarming sound! THANKS Mike, Pat, and Dusty!!!

The event was sponsored by Project READ, MN Humanities Council, Vandyke Elementary, Head Start, ECFE, Invest Early, Americorps, and Indian Education. If you see or work with any of these fine, hard-working people, please extend your thanks to them for making this a success: Jolene Landwer, Donald Velo, Lynn Roberts, Joni Brace, Amy Disserud, Kim Clark, Nikki Miskovich, Mr. D, Meghan Hannah, and Mel Lefebvre. YOU are all an asset to Greenway!!!

Submitted by Karen Haatvedt

Did You Know?

The American Academy of Pediatrics says children under age two should not watch any television. It's not so much a matter of program quality, but the negative effect of watching television on baby's developing brain. Pediatricians recommend "talking, playing, singing and reading together" as the best way to encourage brain development.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Minnesota Reading Corps Bill

HF 1046, which calls for appropriation of $3 million over two years for Minnesota Reading Corps, made it out of the House Early Childhood Finance and Policy Committee and was referred to the K-12 Education Finance Division on Thursday. The Senate companion bill was referred to Finance on Feb. 29. The two are identical, so the next hurdles are passage by the full House and Senate (likely), and surviving the budget negotiations.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Hill City FRED


Hill City dads celebrated reading with a second FRED (Fathers Reading Every Day) event on Feb. 26th at the Hill City School. Nine adults and 14 children enjoyed exploring a Meds 1 Ambulance, Hill City Police car, and 2 Hill City Fire Trucks before having supper and reading together. Every child left with 2 new books, courtesy of Minnesota Humanities and Project Read. Hill City Community Education and Early Start programs helped sponsor the event.
Submitted by Kathy Carroll

Copy and Paste Parent Tips

Oral language is an important early literacy skill.
What it is: Listening and talking – your child can understand what you say, and you and other people can understand your child. It includes knowing the names of things.

How to encourage it:

* Talk with your child throughout the day. Describe what you are doing. Take turns talking, even with your infant. Add information: "Yes, that's a big, black dog."
* Use rhymes, songs, and music to help your child enjoy the sounds of language.
* Tell your own stories. Listen to your child tell a story. Have your child retell a story.
* Read. Read. Read. It's not too early to start at birth. Snuggle together and read aloud. Find books that interest your child. Talk about the story. Ask questions. Explain the words and use those words throughout the day. Have a book ready to read during times when you have to wait.
* Share the reading of the book. Ask your child what is happening. Give feedback: "Yes, it looks like a snake, but it's a caterpillar." Add information: "Caterpillars eat leaves." Ask your child to talk about pictures and ideas in the book and what might happen next. Find letters and words in the book.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

2009 Federal Education Budget Cuts Reading First $, Boosts Title I

Education Week Magazine reports (subscription site) that funding to the Reading First program will be totally eliminated in the long delayed FY 2009 Federal Education Department budget, as recently approved by the US Senate. The House passed a similar bill in February-both versions zero out federal funding for Reading First.

Ed. Week reporters Alyson Klein and Erik W. Robelen wrote "The planned elimination of funding for Reading First represents a reversal of fortune for a prominent initiative of President George W. Bush’s administration. At its height, the program was being funded at $1 billion a year, but it also drew controversy, including suggestions of conflicts of interest."

Title I, the program for disadvantaged students, will see a 4.3% increase in the Education budget, to $14.5 billion. Title I previously received $10 billion from the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Quotable

Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.
~ W. Fusselman ~

Friday, March 6, 2009

MN Public Radio Features "Invest Early"

MPR- At the Invest Early preschool in Grand Rapids, Faith Swanson checks in on her bubbly, 3-year-old daughter, Mary Margaret, who's bundled up in a hallway getting ready to go outside with her classmates.

Preschool opportunities for toddlers like Mary Margaret are rare in rural communities. There might be private schools, but they aren't affordable for low income families like the Swansons. Government funded programs typically don't start until kids are four years old. But Mary Margaret has been coming here year-round since she was an infant. Read the rest of the story here.

Listen here, by clicking on the play button-

Bravo to Sue Hoeft for including the importance of early brain development in her interview!

In Uniform

It seems that every month another group of Minnesota's National Guard families finds out their loved ones are deploying and will be away from home for a year, or more. A great way for soldier moms and dads to stay close to their young children is to make a recording of a favorite book. Whether you use a video camera or just record the audio doesn't matter, and don't worry about sounding professional. Sharing a great book is a great way to say "I Love You" even while you're away.

Here's a favorite story to enjoy right now:

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Celebrate Reading at the Coleraine Library


In honor of Dr.Seuss' Birthday, we are having a family reading party at the Coleraine Public Library!
Readers of all ages are invited to Read, rhyme and toss, walk and win on Foot Book words, make One Fish Two Fish necklaces, eat birthday cake and much more…Please join us Tuesday, March 10th from 6:00-8:00 P.M Sponsored by Community Ed

Community Events Are Literacy Events

The Eagleview "Teen Power" club presented two "make it, take it" literacy activities for young children at the White Oak Sled Dog Race in January. They borrowed the Project Read banner and sent the little ones home with a new book and the "Power of Three" brochure in a Project Read bag.

It's easy to incorporate an early literacy message into any event where families with young children gather. Contact Lisa at Step Ahead (stepahead@qwestoffice.net) to reserve the banner or mascot costume, or to order bags, brochures or other items with the Project Read logo.

Early Childhood Components in the Federal Stimulus Package

State by state details have not been released yet, but the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009 allocates $2 billion for the Child Care Development Block Grants to the states. The CCDBG is one of the largest funding streams that help subsidize child care costs for children who are under the age of 13. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009 allocates $2 billion for this fund through September 30, 2010. The full $2 billion dollars is available upon enactment. Of the $2 billion, $255 million will be set aside for quality improvement activities, $93 million of which will go towards improvement of infant and toddler care. We'll post details for Minnesota as they become available.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Free E-book Online

The Farm Animals, a free talking e-book by Rolando Merino, offers three ways to use its interactive features. Roll over the farm animals with your mouse to hear the animal sounds, click on the speaker icon to hear the whole page read, or click on individual words to hear them pronounced-a fun way to share books, and the computer, with your early reader.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Quotable

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."

— Emilie Buchwald

Monday, March 2, 2009

Build a Bear Workshop Grant


Build-a-Bear Workshops literacy and education grants to help children are awarded for specific programs with measurable outcomes. Awards from $1,000-$10,000 are used to provide support for children in literacy and education programs such as summer reading programs, early childhood education programs and literacy programs for children with special needs. The average grant award is $1,500. The grant request deadlines are at the end of February, May, August, and November.Click here to go to the "Grants for Pawsome Causes" web site.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Target Grant Window Open!

The Target Grant Site is functioning and accepting applications until May 1, 2009. You must apply online.

Copy and Paste Parent Tips

Every Sunday on the Project Read blog we'll have a post you can copy and paste into a document to print for your organization to share with parents.

Lifestyle Literacy Learning
Helping your child learn to read and write doesn’t have to take a lot of extra time or money. Here are some easy ways to build literacy skills on the run
• Point out printed words when you are out and about. Point out individual letters in signs, billboards,
posters, food containers, books and magazines. (Phonics; print awareness)
• Keep in your purse or car a stack of pictures you’ve cut out of magazines or newspapers. Ask your child to tell you a story about the picture or describe all the things s/he sees in the picture. (Comprehension;vocabulary)
• Listen for rhymes in songs that you know or hear on the radio. Sing the songs with your child. (Phonological awareness)
• Help your child to make up and say silly sentences with lots of words that start with the same letter "Tom took ten toy trucks to town." (Phonological awareness)