posted Sep 18, 2011 8:07 PM by Read Aloud Denver
Motheread/Fatheread Colorado "The Motheread curriculum encourages adults to hold or sit close to children as they read great children’s literature aloud and to talk about how the story relates to their lives. Adult educators learn how to teach parents activities that reinforce comprehension, such as acting out the story with simple props, singing, creating visual art, and games. Children and parents discover the vital connection between literature and their life experience, resulting in improved communications, reasoning abilities, critical thinking, social and personal values judgment, and decision-making."
See attached job description: "The Motheread/Fatheread Colorado (MFC) Coordinator is a full-time temporary six-month position (ideally October 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012). To facilitate data-gathering and relationship-building with agencies implementing the program, the MFC Coordinator will work directly with agencies providing literacy programs, including Motheread/Fatheread Colorado. The Coordinator will also work with staff of other humanities councils implementing a Motheread curriculum to help Colorado Humanities design and use tools that measure program effectiveness. The MFC Coordinator will serve under the supervision of the Director of Programs & Center for the Book."
|
posted Sep 18, 2011 8:00 PM by Read Aloud Denver
Rocky Mountain Storytelling FestivalStorytelling: It's more than you think!The Rocky Mountain
Storytelling Festival blends literacy and fun for the whole family. New
this year: continuing education opportunity for teachers! Our featured storytellers:
Heather McNeil, Bend, Oregon: Stories that invite audience participation
Bernadette Nason, England and Austin, Texas: Amusing family anecdotes and personal stories
Christopher Maier, Denver, Colorado: Traditional and original "moving" stories
September 23 10-11 a.m. Family Concert with Featured Storytellers, for kids 5 and older with their parents
10 a.m.-12 pm. Tips for Tellers: How to keep middle and high schoolers engaged, presented by Dan Reeves
11:15 a.m. Kids Tell the Best Stories, workshop for kids presented by Denis Gessing
1:30-4 p.m. Touching Stories, presented by Gwen Bonilla
1:30-4 p.m. Preparing, Practicing and Presenting: Tools for Beginning Storytellers, presented by Heather McNeil
4:30-5:30 p.m. Story Swap with Spellbinders
7-9 p.m. Evening Concert at Castle Rock Middle School with Featured Storytellers, for the whole family
September 24 9
a.m.-12 p.m. Narrative Skills: Storytelling in Preschool, presented
by Jeanette Urdahl, Kathleen DiLeo, Cliff Davidson, DCL *Three clock-hour credits for Child Care Providers!
9 a.m.-12 p.m. 21st Century Skills: Storytelling in the Classroom, with John Stansfield and Pete Vincelette, DCSD
1:15-3:45 p.m. Choosing the Best Stories: Age Appropriate Considerations, panel discussion facilitated by Priscilla Queen
4-5 p.m. Story Swap with Spellbinders
7-9 p.m. Evening Concert at Castle Rock Middle School with Featured Storytellers, for the whole family
There is no charge for any of the workshops or concerts. This event is hosted by DCL Literacy Department |
posted Sep 6, 2011 4:28 PM by Read Aloud Denver
The 2011 CLEL
Annual Meeting will be held at the McKee Building at The Ranch-Larimer
County Fairgrounds just to the north of the Embassy Suites in Loveland.
Join us on Thursday, October 13,
2011 from 8:00 to 3:00 for a day of inspiration, learning and networking
at the McKee Building at The Ranch. We are very excited to have a guest
speaker -Kathy C. Villere, a Speech-Language Pathologist and Early Childhood Literacy Consultant from Colorado Springs.
Thanks to CLiC, we are registering
for the annual meeting and lunch through them. We will be having a
working lunch. You may bring your own lunch or sign up for a box
lunch. Please go to http://www.clicweb.org/clic-events/list-of-events to sign
up for a lunch and/or register. If you would like to bring some
homemade pastries, cookies, a bag of chocolates or other goodies for
breakfast and snacks throughout the day, please do.
|
posted Jul 7, 2011 12:55 AM by Read Aloud Denver
From CLEL Posting:
Our next CLEL Steering Committee meeting will be on Friday, July 22nd from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Highlands Ranch Library at 9292 Ridgeline Boulevard and we would like to invite all of our CLEL members. Please let Carol Wagstaff cwagstaff@dclibraries.org know by July 15th if you will be able to attend.
Some of the topics we will be discussing are:
--Rotation off of current members
--Upcoming Annual Meeting Agenda
--Paypal Account
--Grants & Funding for Storyblocks
Also, Save-the-Date Information:
CLEL Annual Meeting
Thursday, October 13, 2011 (we don't have definite times yet, but it will take most of the day. We are working around CAL's first keynote at 4:15 at the Embassy Suites in Loveland)
Council Tree Library
Fort Collins, CO
Questions about any of the above? E-mail Vicky Hays at vhays@poudrelibraries.org
|
posted Jun 13, 2011 7:04 PM by Read Aloud Denver
Are you having a hard time choosing good children's books? Reading is Fundamental (RIF) can help.
Check out Choosing Good Books with recommendations on multicultural books, travel and vacation reads, award-winning children's books, picture books and more.
RIF's vision: "Our vision is a literate America in which all children have access to books and discover the joys and value of reading."
RIF's mission: "To motivate young children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF's highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8." |
posted Jun 10, 2011 8:19 PM by Read Aloud Denver
[
updated Jun 10, 2011 8:23 PM
]
Check out the new videos on StoryBlocks: Songs and Rhymes that build readers. From About StoryBlocks:
What is Storyblocks? Storyblocks is a project of Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy, working in partnership with Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting Services. It is a collection of 30-60 second videos designed to model to parents, caregivers, and library staff some songs, rhymes, and fingerplays appropriate for early childhood. Each video clip includes helpful early literacy tips to increase caregivers’ understanding of child development and pre-literacy needs. Read more... |
posted Jun 9, 2011 12:24 PM by Read Aloud Denver
“Early childhood settings, including both child care centers and informal care, present a tremendous opportunity to prevent obesity by making an impact at a pivotal phase in children’s lives.”
-Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation: a Report to the President from the Childhood Obesity Task Force.
“Everyone is going to see that these small changes can make a big difference. If our kids get into the habit of getting up and playing, if their palates warm up to veggies at an early age, and if they’re not glued to a TV screen all day, they’re on their way to healthy habits for life,” Mrs. Obama said. “That’s why I’m so excited about Let’s Move! Child Care – because I know that childcare facilities and home-based providers can be a real building block for an entire generation of healthy kids.” Read more… From the Factsheet:
• Obesity rates among preschoolers ages 2 to 5 have doubled in the past four decades.
• One in five children are overweight or obese by the time they reach their 6th birthday.
• Over half of obese children first become overweight at or before age two.
• Only 25% of children ages 2 to 11 years consume three servings of vegetables a day, and less than 50% consume two daily servings of fruit.
• Preschool children spend over four hours a day watching television and videos, including time in child care.
• 60% of children under 5 are in some form of child care, spending an average of 29 hours/week in that care.
• A 2008 survey by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies reported that 93% of parents thought existing health and safety standards for child care should be improved. |
posted Jun 8, 2011 9:10 PM by Read Aloud Denver
Want to be an Early Childhood Superhero? Check out this short two-minute call-to-action EC Superheroes Video that was created for an Language and Early Literacy Development and Interventions class. |
posted Mar 26, 2011 5:39 PM by Read Aloud Denver
The Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference will be held at the Colorado Convention Center on April 15-16, 2011. Check out these particular sessions in the program. Descriptions copied from Conference Abstracts.
Leading for Change in Early Childhood Education: Leadership Development
by Carolyn Elverenli, Joann Dalton, Ginger Maloney, Lynn Andrews
Friday April 15, 2011 9:00a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Leadership development in the field of early childhood education is an idea whose time has come. As the field enters a new era of brain research, broad based interest on the part of funders, and recent initiatives for professional development systems, the need for effective leadership is paramount. The Buell Early Childhood Leadership Program (BECLP) has developed a set of standards for leadership learning and application that is resonating with early childhood education professionals from across the state and in many types of programs and systems. Leading from every chair is a key concept in the BECLP. Through reflecting about strengths, beliefs, and experiences in early childhood education, participants will develop a vision of leadership for themselves in individual programs and settings. The process of action research will be presented as a tool for promoting positive change in local settings. Previous action research conducted by BECLP alumni will be used as real life examples of the possibilities for promoting positive change that result from employing this methodology. The participants will leave the session with concrete “calls to action” for themselves as leaders. Buell Early Childhood Leadership Program Marsico Institute for Early Learning and Literacy
An Explorations of Children’s Rights to Participation: Children as Citizens of the Present
by Ellen Hall and Andrea Sisbarro
Saturday April 16, 2011 10:15a.m. - 11:45a.m.
This presentation considers children’s rights in practice, as opposed to a primarily theoretical treatment; it focuses on young children’s rights, and it emphasizes children’s rights from the perspectives of children themselves. This presentation illustrates the value of viewing children as competent and capable citizens, highlights children’s understanding of their rights and the rights of others, and focuses attention on the tensions between children’s right to protection and their right to participation.
Responding to the Pressures from Above: Getting to Early Childhood Outcomes in the Accountability Age
by Amanda Moreno, PhD and Kim Hartnett-Edwards, PhD
Saturday April 16, 2011 1:45p.m. - 4:30p.m.
First, we will discuss the results of a literature review examining methods of tying “teacher effectiveness” to student scores on standardized tests, and why the lack of consideration of developmentally appropriate practice is a concern in these initiatives. Second, we will use literacy as an example of how to marry “developmentally appropriate” and “outcome- oriented”. Participants will view video examples and engage in small groups and share-out sessions to discuss their experiences with accountability, and innovative ideas for real-world solutions.
Colorado’s New P-3 Professional Development Plan
by Ginger Maloney, PhD
Saturday April 16, 2011 3:30p.m. - 4:30p.m.
This presentation will introduce participants to Colorado’s newly approved P-3 Professional Development Plan and outline steps the state will be taking to implement the Plan. Since this plan has the potential to introduce significant change into the professional development system for early learning professionals, learning about the Plan’s goals, objectives, and process for implementation is important for practitioners and leaders throughout Colorado.
|
posted Mar 20, 2011 8:44 PM by Read Aloud Denver
[
updated Mar 21, 2011 12:27 AM
]
The kids listened intently and asked countless
questions about the cause and effects related to both the earthquake and
the resulting tsunami. They were clearly eager to learn more about the
earth, science and natural forces. de la Torre brought in posters with
seismograph readings which was very timely since the kids were learning
about using numbers to measure things.
Towards the end of his presentation, de la Torre
asked the kids, "Who wants to be a seismologist when they grow up?" Many
hands were raised up high. These kids were definitely excited. Later
that day, de la Torre noted that the younger the kids, the
more enthusiastic they were about becoming seismologists.
After watching the kids' reaction to the
presentation, I was eager to find out if the USGS Library at the Denver
Federal Center had existing partnerships with our local libraries.
Specifically, if there were existing USGS programs that children's
librarians could use to promote early literacy in science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM).
How can children's librarians plant seeds of
interest in science and integrate STEM into early literacy? We can read
non-fiction science-based books during storytime and help parents and
daycare providers select non-fiction books for kids. We can also partner
with the USGS to develop science-focused early literacy programs for
the 0 to 5 age range.
On September 29, 2010, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) presented its testimony during hearings to the US House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology in its report, Averting the Storm: How Investments in Science Will Secure the Competitiveness and Economic Future of the U.S. Specifically, the NAS recommended to "Increase America’s talent pool by vastly improving K–12 science and mathematics education." It's exciting to know that children's librarians have a role in planting those seeds of interest in science before kids enter kindergarten and more importantly, encouraging parents and caregivers to nurture that interest. Those seeds have the long-term potential to be transformational. |
|
