Library Program Promotes Early Literacy

By Jan Howard

A new C.H. Booth Library program for children in kindergarten through third grade has been made possible through a Reader’s Digest Foundation mini-grant of about $1,500.

The “Stories to Go – Take Out Literacy Bags” program, funded by the foundation, is an outgrowth of the goals of a Newtown “Early Success Reading Plan.” That plan requires all children to demonstrate developmentally appropriate standards of literacy by the end of third grade and that literacy will be supported through increased opportunities for parental and community involvement.

In May of 1998, the Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act 98-143: An Act Concerning Early Reading Success. The act requires that every school district develop a comprehensive three-year reading plan designed to improve the reading skills of students in kindergarten through third grade.

In the fall of 1999, an early literacy committee, made up of teachers and reading specialists, community organizations, pre-schools, and the library, was formed to address the goals of the “Early Success Reading Plan.”

The library’s involvement in this committee led to the development of the grant project. The grant application was submitted to the Readers Digest Foundation mini-grant program for projects that promote public school and library cooperation. The funding was received in January.

In collaboration with the reading specialist at Head O’ Meadow, Julie Birch, and media specialist Shannon Betts, Children’s Librarian Alana Meloni created 20 theme-centered bags filled with children’s books, a response journal for parents and students, and related activities designed to strengthen reading and writing skills.

Five colorful bags are available for circulation at the library for each grade level from kindergarten to third grade. The topics include camping, magic, heroism, immigration, baseball, music, dance, pets, and many others.

Chintz-N-Prints donated the fabric for the bags, and members of the Woman’s Club of Newtown sewed them.

“This is a mandate from the state,” Ms Meloni said. “We want every child to have a level of competency by third grade. The process has to start young and be reinforced at home.

“With a library card, parents may borrow the contents of the entire bag as it is,” Ms Meloni said. “It’s really a bag for parents to share with their children.”

Though Ms Meloni said the idea of the bags is not new, she developed the topics and chose the books. Some of the books were from the library’s collection; others were purchased new.

It took about three to four months to coordinate the materials, she said. About 200 items are included in the bags, she said.

A letter in each literacy bag, signed by Ms Meloni, Ms Birch, and Ms Betts, notes: “We recognize the vital role parents play in the literacy development of their child. We thought it would be a good idea to offer some resources for parents to use with their child at home.”

Although the bags are given a grade level, the letter advises parents that some materials may be too difficult for their child to read or understand on their own, and that it is hoped that many of the titles would be read aloud and discussed with the entire family.

A workshop for parents in conjunction with the grant will be held on Wednesday, May 24, at 7 pm, in the special collections room at the C.H. Booth Library. Ms Birch will address the issue of early literacy behaviors and Ms Meloni will talk about how to raise a reader.

The workshop will address “how to make reading fun and have children learn to love reading,” Ms Meloni said, adding, “Parents should read, and they should read to their children.

“Look at the books we have today for children,” she said. “The artwork in them is of museum quality. Everything is at their level now. It’s amazing what they have now.”