Developing world-class early literacy environments
Recent studies have found that 40% of adults in Central New York read at or below an 8th grade level, and 50% of their children will have the same difficulties.
In partnership with Child Care Solutions, the Early Literacy Project promotes successful early learning by incorporating literacy skills into a young child's life through engaged parents, families and caregivers. The Early Literacy Project provides child care professionals in Madison and Onondaga counties with the training needed to offer world-class early literacy skills to children and their families.The project works by:
- assessing a child care program's current literacy programming through an early language & literacy assessment tool;
- training child care professionals through a nine-part early literacy professional development series;
- providing on-site technical assistance as related to early literacy programming (as-needed);
- training one staff member as a Literacy Coach;
- reassessing a child care program's literacy programming at the end of the programming using the same assessment tool.
NOTE: Currently, this project is open only to child care programs in Madison and Onondaga counties. However, any child care professional can participate in stand-alone workshops offered through the Child Care Council, a read ahead partner.
The Early Literacy Project benefits child care programs, teachers, children and their families by:
> Pre-schoolers are able to prepare for kindergarten through read ahead's research-based, developmentally-appropriate curriculum, which is based on NYS learning standards.
> Child care staff learns how to promote family involvement in literacy activities.
> Child care staff earns approx. 19 hours of training credit over the course of the program.
> Child care programs learn about grant opportunities for their program.
> Stipends are offered to literacy coaches.
> Child care programs earn free literacy materials, supplies and books!
For more information on this project,
contact the Child Care Council at (315) 223-7850.
The Early Literacy Project is funded by the Central New York Community Foundation, and is in partnership with Child Care Solutions.