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Ready for Reading
The Pierce County Library System, in partnership with researchers at the iSchool (Information School) at the University of Washington, applied for and received a grant from the Boeing Company, Muckleshoot Indian Charitable Fund and individual donors to replicate a study done by the Carroll County Public Library, in Maryland. This study involved training Home Child Care providers in the skills of early literacy – skills that children need in order to be ready to read in school.
The results can be seen in the Executive Summary, which shows statistically significant improvement in the literacy skills of the children in three out of four areas measured. For more details, see the full Research Report.
Every Child Ready to Read is a project of libraries nationwide that supports parents and caregivers in preparing their children for successful reading experiences in school. The Five Practices of Early Literacy are easy and enjoyable guidelines that can help prepare your child to read and succeed at school. Think of them as steps leading up to the open school door.
School Steps Pattern
Schoolhouse Pattern
1. Talking- Talking thoughtfully and often with your child develops their oral language skills which form the basis of all their literacy skills. Talking is the seed from which language and brain development grows. Starting at birth, talk to your child about the world and your life in it. Explore, describe, question, and wonder.
2. Singing– Singing also includes rhyming, and increases children’s ability to hear the smaller parts of words. This is a vital pre-reading skill. Singing helps language seeds grow. The words your child hear are broken into smaller parts when you sing or rhyme together. Language ability and brain connections grow.
3. Reading – Sharing books together remains the most effective way to grow a reader. Reading increases vocabulary, word concepts, emotional understanding, and discovery.
4. Writing – Hand-in-hand with shared reading, experimenting with writing helps children realize the importance of print in our information-filled world. Scribbling and drawing and practicing with markers, crayons, pencils, and keyboards help children understand the important of printing and writing in our everyday life.
5. Playing – Play is children’s work! Through play, they discover the world and their place in it. Playing with others is the most effective way to help children develop healthy social/emotional skills.
For more information, visit the 6 Skills of Early Literacy page.
Study Documents
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Top Innovator Award
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More information is available on the Urban Libraries Council website. |
Contact Information
If you have question or comments regarding this grant, please contact:
Alison Pascone
Early Learning Librarian
Pierce County Library System
253-548-3417
apascone@piercecountylibrary.org
