South Dublin Libraries – Read 2 Me

The Programme in Context Outcome 1 SDCC Children’s Services Strategy Document 2011: “ All children will have the key skills needed to engage successfully in the education system on entry to primary school” The National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People: “Develop and promote models of good practise that enable parents, families, communities, ECCE settings and schools to work together to support literacy and numeracy acquisition”

Holistic Service Delivery Libraries working to promote a ‘culture of reading’ across the County: Delivering Ready 2 Read pre literacy programme Maths Eyes numeracy project in association with IT Tallaght, the Digital Hub and Dublin City Libraries Developing 123 – Early Numeracy Skills programme for pre school children and parents Focusing on intergenerational educational approaches to strengthen and build the basic literacy skills of parents. Developing library support and engagement with preschool education services Delivering Summer Reading programme to address the ‘reading dip’ occurring during long summer holidays Delivering TTRS training to children with reading difficulties across branch library network

What is Early Literacy? What children know about reading and writing before they can actually read and write

What Surveys Tell Us Direction Research found: Only 31% of Irish children have a story read to them as part of their night time routine 1 in 6 parents admitted that they never read a story to their children at all

Why Parents? Because: Children begin to read before they start school The parent is a critical role model Parents know when their children are ‘ready to learn’

Ready 2 Read Source: CSO, March 2010 Based on ‘Getting ready to read..emergent literacy and family literacy’ – 2001 by Whitehurst and Lonigan Research based Evaluated Ready to Customise

Ready 2 Read Ready 2 Read has been adapted to suit the Irish cultural and education system A six week course for pre school children and their parents and carers focusing on six pre-literacy skills which help prepare children for formal learning in school

Six Core Skills Print Motivation Vocabulary Print Awareness Narrative Skills Letter Knowledge Phonological Awareness

Skill 1 Print Motivation Choose Books with Care Read With Enthusiasm Use Different Tones Find Books With Repeated Phrases

Tips For Parents 1 Encourage children to think that books and reading are fun! Make time for story time every day Children who enjoy books will want to learn to read Visit your local library often

Skill 2 Vocabulary Choose books that have a rich vocabulary Challenge children with non fiction books Allow time for parents to read to their children and then encourage both of them to tell the group about what they have read

Tips for Parents 2 It has been estimated that children learn 4,000 to 12,000 words by ‘listening’ to stories Encourage your child to ask questions and discuss the books being read Use descriptive language

Skill 3 – Print Awareness Have fun with words – play a game of charades Point to some of the words as you say them – especially words which are repeated Say the title of the book and the authors name

Tips for Parents 3 Read aloud everyday print – labels, signs, menus – print is everywhere Let your child turn the pages Let your child hold the book and tell the story Hold the book upside down – see if your child turns it around

Skill 4 Narrative Skills Provide the child with props which allow them to make up stories Encourage the children to draw pictures and talk about their drawings

Tips For Parents 4 Tell your child stories of when you were little and your adventures Encourage them to tell their stories Stories help children understand that things happen in order – first, next, last Ask open-ended questions Being able to tell or retell a story helps children understand what they read

Skill 5 Letter Knowledge Sing the Alphabet Song Have fun with Alphabet letters Make letters from clay or use magnetic letters

Tips For Parents 5 Write your child’s name Point out and name letters when reading Write words that interest your child (like ‘dinosaur’ or ‘truck’) using crayons, magnetic letters or pencil Knowing the names and sounds of letters helps children to say the written words

Skill 6 Phonological Awareness Being able to recognise and play with smaller sounds which make up words Choose books with rhyming words Have fun with nursery rhymes – use finger puppets

Tips for Parents 6 Clap syllables in words and songs Leave out rhyming words in stories and have children fill in the blanks Read poems and stories filled with rhyming words

Why Use Your Local Library? Welcoming spaces – particularly for children Events for families Website offering 24/7 and homework help Great range of books, music and DVDs Internet Access Family Friendly Opening Hours

Why Bother? Raises the profile of the library service to new users – particularly in areas where there is no tradition of library usage Benefits of increased membership and positive impact on service indicators Raises awareness of family learning Strengthens inter-agency working Delivers stock into the heart of local communities Facilitates skills development for library staff

The Future Now delivering training at branch level to deliver the programme Working closely with County Childcare Committee to train pre school staff across the County Mobile Library Service now on board visiting crèches and pre school facilities with block loans, storytelling sessions etc Fettercairn Pilot Project

A short video showing the Ready2Read Programme for 3 and 4 year olds can be found at: