1. Ready to Read Grant                        Central Texas Library System, Inc. 1200 parents & teachers 14 public libraries & branches 3 Head Start agencies September 2010 – August 2011

2. 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.                       

3. 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 Story Being able to describe things and events, and tell stories Love Books Being interested in and enjoying books Learn Words Knowing the names of things Hear Sounds Being able to hear and play with the smaller sounds of words See Letters Knowing 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 nnnnnnnnnnnnnn n n nnnnnnnnnnnnnn n n nnnnnnnnnnnnnn n n 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: 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: 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: Print Motivation Being interested in and enjoying books Print Motivation Being interested in and enjoying books Print Motivation Being interested in and enjoying books Narrative Skills Be able to describe things and events and tell stories. Narrative Skills Be able to describe things and events and tell stories. Narrative Skills Be able to describe things and events and tell stories. Vocabulary Knowing the names of things Vocabulary Knowing the names of things Vocabulary Knowing the names of things nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn n n nnn n nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn n n nnn n nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn n n nnn n nn nn nnn nnnnnn n n nnn nn n nn nn nn nnn nnnnnn n n nnn nn n nn nn nn nnn nnnnnn n n nnn nn n nn Letter Knowledge Knowing letters are different from each other, knowing their names and sounds, and recognizing letters everywhere Letter Knowledge Knowing letters are different from each other, knowing their names and sounds, and recognizing letters everywhere Letter Knowledge Knowing letters are different from each other, knowing their names and sounds, and recognizing letters everywhere Print Awareness Noticing print, knowing how to handle a book, and knowing how to follow the words on a page Print Awareness Noticing print, knowing how to handle a book, and knowing how to follow the words on a page Print Awareness Noticing print, knowing how to handle a book, and knowing how to follow the words on a page Phonological Awareness Being able to hear and play with the smaller sound to words stories. Phonological Awareness Being able to hear and play with the smaller sound to words stories. Phonological Awareness Being able to hear and play with the smaller sound to words stories. nnnnnnnnnnnnnn n n nnnnnnnnnnnnnn n n nnnnnnnnnnnnnn n n The Ready to Read early literacy program is sponsored by your public library in cooperation with the Central Texas Library System , Inc., the Texas State Library & Archives Commission, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and a grant from the Tocker Foundation. For more information, go to www.CTLS.net. The Ready to Read early literacy program is sponsored by your public library in cooperation with the Central Texas Library System , Inc., the Texas State Library & Archives Commission, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and a grant from the Tocker Foundation. For more information, go to www.CTLS.net. The Ready to Read early literacy program is sponsored by your public library in cooperation with the Central Texas Library System , Inc., the Texas State Library & Archives Commission, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and a grant from the Tocker Foundation. For more information, go to www.CTLS.net.

4. Goals                        RaiseEarly literacy rates in low income households EducateParents/teachers on importance of reading to young children FosterPublic library and Head Start partnerships to strengthen community’s literacy and educational continuum EstablishPublic library as a vital early literacy resource to parents and caregivers

5. HILL COUNTRY COMMUNITY ACTION Harker Heights Public Library Head Start Partners                        EEOC Marlin Public Library Waco-McLennan County Public Library CENTRAL TEXAS 4C Belton – Lena Armstrong Public Library Killeen Public Library Temple Public Library Libraries with no Head Start Hewitt Public Library McGregor – McGinley Memorial Library Salado Public Library Valley Mills Public Library

6. By the Numbers 66,000 Total project funding from IMLS & Texas State Library 20,000 Early literacy info for parents, teachers & libraries 5,000 Friends of the Waco-McLennan County Library donation 1,400 Parents & teachers trained – focus on disadvantaged 1,400 Books for parents 80 Training sessions offered by libraries 45 Length of training sessions – 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 Spanish picture books for each library 1.5 Estimated number of hours/week/library                       

7. Learn – Reach - Teach                        LEARN - Public library staff learn to teach the three early literacy skills classes. Parents, caregivers and teachers learn early literacy tips 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

8. Who Does What – CTLS • 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                       

9. Who Does What – Head Start • 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                       

10. Who Does What – Library Staff • 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                       

11. Timeline                       

12. 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%Percentof 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                       

13. What to Count                       

14. How to Keep Up                        www.CTLS.net http://readytoread.pbworks.com

15. Questions                       