Grand Rapids FRED

Thanks to the Grand Rapids Area Library for hosting the second FRED event for the Grand Rapids area. We had four dads and seven kids on a frigid morning. Check back for an update on the Hill City event that took place this past Thursday & the upcoming event in the Greenway Area on Tuesday (March 3).

Target Grant Site Down

Hat tip to Chad for discovering a broken link. After checking the main Target site it appears all of the different Target grant category sites are down, perhaps for maintenance as tomorrow starts a new application period. For general information on Target grants click here I'll keep monitoring the site to make sure the Target Foundation has not made a change to its grant making priorities and deadlines.----Toni

Comment Posting Tutorial

New to blogging and commenting? If you'd like to post a comment to any entry, click on the word "comments" after the main entry. The comment box will appear along with a "select profile" box with drop down menu below. Just type in your comment then click to the right of "select profile" to reveal the drop down menu. If you are already signed up with one of the services shown, select it and enter your info. If you don't use any of the services, or don't want to use a profile, you can always select "anonymous." When you are done click on "post comment" and a security box will appear asking for you to enter the letters and/or numbers you see. Project Read has enabled this feature to make sure spambots can't find this blog and enter offensive or advertising comments.

Weekend Fun

Sing "Put Your Finger in the Air" with your young person and she can learn- body parts, words for time, and about making choices. After you both know the song ask him where to put his finger. Say "you choose" and talk about making choices. Knowing there are choices helps us feel good and helps us get what we want, or need. Young children can learn the word "choices" and become more aware of what they think and feel.

State Legislative News

A bill to fund after school community learning grants and a statewide transportation study to engage children and youth in after school and summer learning programs has been introduced in the Minnesota House and Senate.
Click here for the House version
Here for the Senate version.

Both versions of the $10M appropriation include up to $250,000 for a transportation study to investigate barriers to children and youth participating in out of school learning activities.

Northome FRED Event

Jerry Struss, retired Northome School superintendent, returns as a guest reader for Fathers Reading Every Day (FRED). His audience hung on every word of DW, The Picky Eater, an Arthur book. Northome's second FRED event will be on Tuesday, March 24th at 5:30.

Looking for Literacy Funding?

It says it's for "librarians interested in grant opportunities" but the Library Grants Blog offers a variety of literacy related grant opportunities.

Target will be opening the window for Early Childhood Reading Grants on March 1, 2009. Applications must be in by May 31, 2009.