Library in Action

Never Too Old to Learn

2012-02-10T09:37:00.000-08:00

Meet Ms. Moton. She is 105 years old and she decided to learn how to use a computer. She always had the desire to learn, but she never had the means or opportunity...until she agreed to participate in the Library Outreach program hosted at her local senior nutrition sites. When Ms. Moton has a nutritious meals she also participates in basic computer classes.Ms. Moton's 80 year old daughter brings her to the class and now she can use the mouse and keyboard. Ms. Morton mind is sharp, she has quick wit and a desire to learn. When the instructor, Dot Siler asked if she needed help she was told to stop hovering!

Ms. Moton did learn how to let up on the keys!

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is an affordable place to receive computer classes. The library also provides remote classes and opportunities to reach people who cannot use the library in a traditional manner like Ms. Moton who has limited mobility. Outreach programs are so much more than a simple activity, it provides access and the opportunity for seniors, such as Ms. Moton to participate in continuing learning opportunities that support healthy aging. The library currently provides programs at six senior nutrition locations. For more information on Senior Outreach Programs contact Dot Siler at dsiler@cmlibrary.org.

Library by Mail Goes Multilingual!

2012-01-31T08:03:00.000-08:00

A bit of history...The Outreach Department provides programs and services to patrons who cannot use our facilities in a traditional manner and partnering with Mecklenburg County Senior Center is a perfect fit. We offer regular literacy programs at the Shamrock facility on Willard Farrow Drive. The Willard Farrow location serves a diverse population, which includes seniors from Russia, Asia and Latin America. Twice a month, Irania Patterson visits the facility and offers programs in Spanish. In our quest to understand our patrons needs, she presented our Library by Mail service to the group and twenty-five qualified people signed up for the service! Within a week of processing the applications, books were mailed as requested. Even though our Library by Mail coordinator, Connie Ellington does not speak Spanish, she was able to pick up key words from the applications and mail patrons books and other material. One recipient was so excited about reading Spanish language books, she insisted on coming to the Library to thank Connie. The patron was over joyed to read her books. She said (translated) "I wanted that book for years. I love the books and the service, thank you so much. I did not have anything to read until the books came in the mail!" She kissed and hugged the staff before she left. We hope to replicate this service for other patrons at the facility.

We recently learned that the transportation service used to bring the seniors to the facility has been cut and many seniors will not be able to participate in the social and educational opportunities that are part of the nutrition program. The Library by Mail program will serve an important role in keeping the seniors connected to community resources as well as keeping them engaged through reading. Both aspects are important for healthy aging and life long learning. To learn more about our Library by Mail program visit www.cmlibrary.org.

Reading Challenge

2012-01-10T12:31:00.000-08:00

Want to get 200 middle school students reading? Let No Limit Larry and the Power 98 Morning Madhouse issue a challenge. The Reid Park RAMS were challenged to read twenty minutes five days per week. Students who meet the challenge will be recognized at the February and April awards assembly and is eligible for a drawing to win "middle school cool" prizes. The top five readers will spend a morning on air with the Morning Madhouse crew! Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is collaborating with Reid Park Academy to support literacy and academic success.

More Than Cookies!

2011-12-15T06:06:00.000-08:00

Keeping the Read to Me, Charlotte book shelves stocked is no easy task. With eight community book shelves in high traffic areas, we replace books often...but that is our goal. We want all children to have access to books, especially in their home. Parents should have books on hand and read to their children everyday. One local Girl Scout Troop is helping to keep the shelves full. Troop leader Gina Brundick, led her Junior Troop in collecting 147 books. The scouts collection effort was in conjunction with the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts. They also collected an additional 200 books from scouts attending the Mother/Daughter Christmas Tea on December 3, 2011. We are thankful for the work of these scouts, their parents and all of our community volunteers. Calling all scouts, the challenge has been issued. To host a book drive for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library contact Amy Kukla, Family Literacy Coordinator at 704.416.4399.

Barnes & Noble supports Read to Me, Charlotte Community Bookshelves

2011-12-08T06:57:00.000-08:00

Barnes & Noble stores across the country invite customers to give the gift of reading to children in need during its annual Holiday Book Drive, taking place from November 1, 2011 to January 1, 2012. The Barnes & Noble Holiday Book Drive provides an opportunity for customers to donate books through locally designated non-profit organizations.

Holiday Book Drive recipients throughout the country include schools, libraries, literacy organizations, family social service agencies and homeless centers. This year, the Barnes & Noble at Carolina Place, located at 11055 Carolina Place Parkway Pineville, NC 28134 will be collecting books for Read to Me, Charlotte at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Charlotte Family Housing. The goal at Barnes & Noble at Carolina Place is to collect 7000 books.

“The Holiday Book Drive is one of our most popular community partnerships,” says Sarah DiFrancesco, director of community relations for Barnes & Noble. “Our booksellers and customers get to share the pure joy of giving a book to a child in need. And because each Barnes & Noble store chooses its local non-profit beneficiary, the donations are very personal.”

If you know of an organization that is interested in conducting a book drive, or would like more information on Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Community Book Shelves contact Amy Kukla, Family Literacy Specialist at 704.416.4399.

What's New In Outreach

2011-11-14T08:36:00.000-08:00

The Outreach Department has just begun two new community projects. We are starting a three-year project with Reid Park School. The purpose of the project is to help kindergarten students increase their reading skill and to support the educational success of all students at the school. In addition, the library will also be able to capture and share our impact on educational success, based on the experience we will have at this school. The Library's efforts is part of the Family Involvement Student Success Network Team; a County led effort to support Reid Park School.

The second project is the Job Center on the Go! Once again, thanks to funding from the Crossroads Charlotte Initiative Grant, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library can expand it workforce development activities into the community. As in the Job Help Center, patrons will receive support for job exploration and career transition. They will also have the opportunity to participate in computer workshops and get the individual assistance needed to conduct successful job searches.

Stay tuned! Information and outcomes regarding each program is forthcoming.

Welcome Back

2011-11-14T08:03:00.001-08:00

DSC_0180, a photo by CMLibraryInAction on Flickr.

Welcome Back Faye! Faye Brown is back with her library and outreach friends...at least for a little while. Faye Brown retired from Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in March 2010 after many years of service. Faye is bringing her expertise and experience to our early literacy and adult programs while outreach staff members are on leave. Faye's efforts are appreciated and needed and we commend her for the fabulous intergenerational program she planned for Veteran's Day.

Amigos

2011-11-14T07:52:00.001-08:00

IMG_2023, a photo by CMLibraryInAction on Flickr.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Amigo's programs offers free tutoring and homework help at four our our library locations. (Independence Regional, Mountain Island, South County Regional and University City Regional.) This program targets students who speak English as a second language. For more information on volunteering or participating in this program call 704.416.0557.

All in a Day's Work in Outreach

2011-11-14T07:46:00.000-08:00

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Staff members in the outreach department have been beyond busy providing services to patrons in our community. In a nutshell, we are into our third phase of the the Jump Start reading program. We are excited to report that parents are understanding the importance of reading to their children at an early age and they are reading to their children at home. Library by Mail has 136 regular patrons and three community deposit collections. Six volunteers or "actioneers" as we affectionately call them, deliver books to partons home. Our Read to Me, Charlotte website is live with family literacy activities. Refugee families participate in pre-literacy programs and school age program that provide literacy skill to help students prepare and be successful in school. There are four Amigo's sites in our library locations offering free tutoring to students who speak English as a second language. We are also providing programs to adults in Spanish and English, which focus on literacy and job searching opportunities. These programs take place at senior nutrition sites, adult day cares and jails. Staff also work in the community to provide literacy programs to children with special needs. If you know a population that cannot take advantage of library services and resources, please contact Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Outreach department at 704.416.0552.

Intergenerational Veteran's Day program

In Her Own Words

2011-07-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

Intern Carmella Morrison working at the Job Help Center

Our summer outreach intern, Carmella Morrison, reflects on her first month working at the library.

While being in this internship, I have a wonderful opportunity to work with almost all the staff in the Outreach Department. I have also worked in the Job Help Center, and the Spangler Children’s Library in ImaginOn. With each experience, I learned a little something more about how the Outreach program helps the community by providing library resource outside of the Library.

Job Searching at the Job Help Center

One program I was fascinated with was one where the staff goes out to Spanish speaking families’ neighborhoods and tells them about the Library’s resources. They also provide children with early literacy skills. I had the opportunity to go to this program at the Latin American Coalition with staff member Veronica Corral. She had story time with the Spanish speaking families, and engaged their children in early literacy activities. Learning these skills will allow the children to be better prepared when they enter school. I was able to read a book to them as well.

I also love working in the Job Help Center. I help people with whatever question they may have about their resume, job application and job searching inquires.

I really do believe in this internship. My goal is to be involved in projects that support social capital and community building. I am going to enjoy reaching my goal and I am definitely going to have fun doing it. The staff members are really respectable and sweet people. I love what they are doing for the community.

Welcome Carmella Morrison

2011-07-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

Carmella Morrison

The Outreach Department welcomes Carmella Morrison. She is a student at UNC Charlotte. Carmella Morrison is a summer intern who comes to us through Crossroads Charlotte. She will be working on community building and social capital projects. Miss Morrison has been working in the department for two weeks and she has already assisted in our Job Help Center, which is our Crossroads project and the Career Cruiser; the Library's Crossroads initiative. Carmella has also worked in other community building projects such as the Reid Park summer reading initiatives and she participated in early literacy programs at the Bilingual Preschool. On Thursday, June 30, Carmella had the opportunity to meet a delegation of Russian Librarians. She heard how library services are offered in a different countries and how they serve their patrons and volunteers.

We hope that Carmella has a wonderful experience that will assist her with her education and career. We also want to give Carmella an opportunity to make a positive difference in the community. To learn more about Crossroads Charlotte go to http://crossroadscharlotte.com/.

Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library...Again

2011-05-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

The American Library Association researched based curriculum, Every Child Ready to Read at Your Library® has been updated. The expanded 2nd version; ECRR 2 incorporates simple practices designed to help parents and caregivers develop early literacy skills in children from newborns to five. The curriculum has changed form six building blocks to five simple practices, which includes talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing and developing language and pre-reading skills in children.
The new edition also includes fun with science and math. ECRR 2 still stresses the importance of parents being their child’s first teacher and it promotes the library as a resource for developing early literacy skills in children from birth to age five.
The new ECRR 2 will be used in our Spangler, Jump Start Reading at Home Program. The curriculum is scheduled to be used with our third group of Spangler participants beginning June 2011. Outreach staff Jump Start facilitators participated in a day-long workshop and webinar on the new curriculum and they are prepared for the roll out! Check us out soon, we will have information and pictures on the new curriculum a long with parents and caregivers reaction to the new curriculum.

Dia de Los Ninos; Dia de Los Libros

2011-05-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

Illustrator Robert Casilla

On Friday, April 29, students at Sterling Elementary school and Irwin Avenue Elementary school had the opportunity to meet the illustrator Robert Casilla. Robert is an artist and illustrator. He has illustrated many multicultural children's books such as JALAPENO BAGELS and FIRST DAY IN GRAPES. He has also illustrated a number of biographies, including ones about Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, Rosa Parks and Simon Bolivar.

Quinceanera Program

Mr. Casilla visit was part of the library's annual Dia de los Ninos, Dia de los Libros celebration. For the past 15 years, the library has celebrated and honored children, books and programs by offering literacy programs at our branch locations, schools and within our community. Dia emphasizes the importance of advocating literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

Storytelling at the Asian Library

This year was the fifteenth anniversary of Dia and we celebrated the anniversary by providing fifteen different activities throughout the month of April. Highlights from the month included Quinceanera programs, Cinderella Around the World, which was a collaboration with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and the Asian Library and of course, the opportunity to meet artist/illustrator Robert Casilla. Dia de los Ninos, Dia de los Libros is one of many ways the library supports literacy, honors and recognizes the diversity in our community and create opportunities for learning.

Honoring Literature and Culture

2011-04-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

There are several aspects of Charlotte Mecklenburg that makes it a unique city for families and businesses. Of course I believe our library system is one aspect, but the diversity in our community is another important aspect. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Internatinal Advisory Council recently honored the diversity in our community with the Global Family Series. The series was held on March 26 at ImaginOn. It was a continuation of the four-series festival that took place last year honoring literacy, the arts and culture. Approximately 350 came to ImaginOn to celebrate different cultures and honor their heritage. The afternoon was free for all who attended. Artist donated their time and the library staff introduced hundred of people to our collection filled with books that represent the diversity of our community. As a result of this event, we have new library users, patrons have a better understanding of our collection and the library continues to be recongnized as a valuable institution in our community.

Reading Across America with Sterling Elementary School

2011-03-15T10:43:00.000-07:00

A nation wide reading initiative would not be the same without participation from our public libraries; and like many libraries around our nation, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library supported Read Across America. Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program sponsored by the National Education Association. It is a call for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, which happens to be the birthday of Dr. Seuss. The outreach department celebrated reading with students at Sterling Elementary School.

We wanted the kindergarten students at Sterling Elementary school to celebrate reading beyond that day. Children should have access to books after the last school bell rings. Our goal was to make sure each child had enough books to start a home library. The 2001 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study states that students from homes with more than ten children's books had significantly higher average reading score then students form homes with ten or fewer books. Each kindergarten student at Sterling Elementary school received three books, including a Dr. Seuss classic, to start their home library. Assistant Principal Kim Odom stated that during their last staff meeting, they discussed the students reaction when they received their books and one student was so happy, she cried! When we offered to give the students more books, Assistant Principal Odom replied, "Anytime we can get more books in their hands, we will do whatever is necessary to make it happen."

How and why does the public library give away books? Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has a vision to create opportunities for personal success in reading and learning for everyone. We are committed to building a highly literate and educated community. Working with our local school system and reaching out to young children, especially those identified as at risk, is a great way to reach this goal and make a positive difference in a child's life.

Outreach Coordinators hand out books for home library.

Now, how do we give away books, especially in these tough economic times when libraries are closing and reducing service hours? We depend on volunteers like you and other members of our community. Book give-a-ways, like the one at Sterling Elementary school are made possible by community book drives. Books that are collected are distributed to children and families in need and they are used for our Community Book Shelf program. Interested in hosting a community book drive? Would you like additional information on our Community Book Shelf program, follow the "community book drives" link and start supporting your community and public library today!

Jump Start-Reaching Out to Everyone

2011-03-11T13:55:00.000-08:00

The Jumps Start Reading program is designed to bring awareness to the importance of early literacy and it is also designed to give low income families tools and resources to be successful in this area. For most of our sites, it is easy to introduce this concept, but when you work with families from different cultures, delivering this concept becomes a little more challenging. The Outreach Staff at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is up for the challenge!

The Outreach staff has an ongoing relationship and commitment to work with the growing refuge population in our community. During the second phase of our Jump Start reading program, we began to work with the refugee population by providing storytelling sessions, parent workshops, books and other resources to introduce early literacy concepts to families. Amy Kukla, a Jump Start Reading coordinator, describes her experience working with the refugee families:
I had one parent consistently come to all three workshops, and I saw growth in her reading with her son. In each workshop, I emphasized that they didn’t need to read English in order to share books with their children and taught how to ask questions and talk about the pictures, dialogic reading. In the first workshop, after the workshop material was covered, I asked Ayoai if she wanted to take time during the workshop to read to her son, who is 8 months old. She giggled, sounding embarrassed. She said that she would read to him at home. At the second workshop, the American volunteer who was at the workshop shared a book with her son, but Ayoai still didn’t interact. At the last workshop, before the workshop even began, Ayoai picked up one of the books I brought, let her son look at it, and named some of the pictures and letters in the book. I was so proud of her!

Jump Start Reading has the capacity to change lives. If Ayoai continues to read to her son, he will get the skills he needs to be successful in school. Ayoai was proud to admit that she is still reading with her son. The Jump Start reading program will connect Ayoai and her children with her local neighborhood library as well as give her fifteen books to begin a home library so that she can continue reading to her children for years to come.

Ayoai and her son

Second Phase of Spangler Grant Begins

2011-01-28T10:05:00.000-08:00

In January 2011, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Outreach Department began the second round of the Spangler grant program. From January through June 2011, we've added twelve preschool locations to the program and we are working with staff from three of our library locations. We are looking forward to 100% of our participants understanding and demonstrating the six building blocks of reading, which will open the doors to reading. We are also anticipating our parents and teachers increasing reading activities with the children involved. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is a relevant part of our community. This program will not only help children be successful when entering school, it will also connect children and families with their neighborhood libray promoting a lifetime of readers. Stay tuned for more stories and pictures and first hand comments from the staff delivering the program.

Celebrating Native American History Month-November 2010

2010-12-28T09:05:00.000-08:00

With a goal to create cultural and global awareness, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's International Advisory Council Celebrated Native American History Month. Our own council member, Barbara Locklear shared stories, history and culture from the Lumbee Tribe at the Plaza Midwood location and two community sites that serve senior adult. The programs were excellent, entertaining, informative and well received.

First Sememster of Jump Start Reading Ends

2010-12-28T07:07:00.000-08:00

The first semester of the Jump Start Reading program has ended and the results are in! Our surveys and evaluations indicate that parents and caregivers gained valuable information regarding the importance of early literacy and children's success when entering school. By the end of the six months, our program coordinators, Veronica Corral, Amy Kukla and Emily Little stated that children were able to demonstrate the six pre-reading skills and parents and caregivers were able to implement these skills when reading to children. Below our program coordinators share some of the highlights from the program:

ALL of the children at this site (even the 2 year old's) now know what letter their first name starts with!
All the parents have been extremely appreciative of the meals and incentives. I do not think there was ever a leftover piece of pizza with this group! Everyone was very excited about the books and the children continue to talk about them when I go back to visit.
I just wanted to mention that the highlight was definitely taking seventy program participants and their families on the bus to the Library. For many of them it was the first time going to the library. They all seemed to enjoy it and many checked out books for the first time.

Families participating in the program were connected to their neighborhood library. This will allow them to continue the learning experience after the formal program ends. In addition, each child participating in the program (approximately 105 children) received a home library consisting of 15 books, which will support their current and growing reading comprehension level. Parents participating in the program received all the program incentives, which included book bags for each family, meals at each of the parent workshops, gift certificates from a local store and certificates of completion.

The next semester for Jump Start Reading begins January 2011. Staff from three of our branch locations will be assisting the department with program implementation. During this session, we will be offering three workshops instead of six. Our parents, caregivers and staff indicated that this would be practical while still being effective. We will keep you posted as we continue to, "Jump Start Reading at Home!"

2010-10-18T10:47:00.000-07:00

Roberto is extremely excited about having an e-mail account and using e-mail for the first time. Roberto is 76 years old, and he is participating in the American L ibrary Association, Dollar General, The American Dream Starts @ Your Library program located at our Sugar Creek Branch. Roberto has already taken four, two-hour classes and he and his wife, were excited about the last class, which was setting up and using e-mail. Roberto said this was the first time he has ever had an e-mail account and the first person he was going to contact is his son.

Our new instructor, Sabino Nevarez Garcia has done an excellent job creating a comfortable learning environment for Roberto, his wife Maria and the rest of the students in the class. Originally a teacher from Durango, Mexico; Mr. Garcia uses his experience and talent to help his students increase their job and communication opportunities by learning the skills needed to use the Internet. Mr. Garcia also teaches at our Main Library location and another class is held at the Latin American Coalition.

The homework assignment for last week class was to send an e-mail to the instructor. Our pre-class evaluation indicated that students participating in the program do not have a computer in their home. Roberto and Marie will have to come back to the library to use one of the public access computers to complete their assignment and we hope this connection will assist them in becoming regular library users.

Visit to the Library

2010-08-31T11:46:00.000-07:00

We are now three months into our six month Jump Start Reading at Home program. Our teachers, children and families have been introduced to Vocabulary; knowing the names of things, Print Motivation; being interested in and enjoying books, and Print Awareness; noticing print, knowing how to handle a book and knowing how to follow the words on a page. In addition, all programs participants received fifteen books to begin their at-home library. (The 2001 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study states that students from homes with more than ten children's books had significantly higher average reading scores than scores of students from homes with ten or fewer books.)

To continue to expose families and teachers to reading, books and literacy, all program participants will tour their neighborhood library. This is a very important element of the program. By taking our families and teachers to the library, we are given them tools and resources to be self-sufficient and empowered to continue to support their child's early literacy education.

To make this experience possible, we have to identify and remove barriers that will allow all families to participate in the library visit and tour. During a recent visits to Plaza Midwood library, the transportation barrier was removed by purchasing bus passes for all program participants. Over fifty people took the bus to the library. The pictures below illustrate the Bilingual Specialist, Veronica Corral organizing the group to board the bus as well as the library visit and tour. Follow the link below to view all the photos of this library experience.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/libraryinaction/sets/72157624725999301/

Jump Start Reading at Home Print Motivation

2010-08-12T07:32:00.000-07:00

When the county car pulls into the parking lot of the Park Apartment Clubhouse, parents and children know it is time for Miss Veronica and the library program. Twenty-three children and their mothers gathered in the activity room to hear stories and participate in music and reading activities that encouraged interest and enjoyment of books. The building block for this session was “Print Motivation.” According to the American Library Association, Every Child Ready to Read program, “Children who enjoy being read to will want to learn how to read.” It is a challenge to measure enjoyment but the clapping, smiles, laughter and program participation lets Miss Veronica know that her audience enjoyed the stories.

During this session, families enjoyed the stories; The Squeaky Door by Margaret Read McDonald, Whose Nose? by Jeannette Rowe and Jump Frog Jump by Robert Kalan. Parents also received information on Spanish language computer classes offered at our Hickory Grove location. As the program ended, parents and children helped Miss Veronica carry her material to the car and they prepared for their next session, which will include a visit to their neighborhood library.

Lifelong Learning

2010-08-02T06:49:00.000-07:00

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library supports lifelong learning for learners of all ages. These experiences take place within the library walls as well as in the community. Dot Siler, the newest member of the Community Engagement Outreach Team, but not new to the library system, has over twenty years of experience bringing library services to the community. A significant amount of this time has been dedicated to bringing library services and resources to older adults. Dot’s patrons rave about her programs. The secret to Dot’s success is knowing her audience, asking them what they need and want and engaging them in the creating the programs.

Dot’s program repertoire is nothing less than phenomenal. Older adults have learned how to use laptops to gain information about Medicare as well as learn how to keep up with grandchildren through e-mail. Her seniors learned about growing their own herbs and participated in numerous memory programs that support healthy aging. In July, older adults from the PALS adult day care and the Beatte Rae Thomas Park and Recreation Center senior program celebrated Beatrix Potter (July 28, 1866) and Ernest Hemingway’s (July 21, 1899) birthdays. Patrons listened to stories from the authors and they created a celebration art piece honoring the author’s contribution to literacy.

This month, seniors are looking forward to Dot Siler’s author program. She has arranged for Michelle Bowman, author of Church Folk and More Church Folk to visit five library and four community locations. Miss Bowman’s library location schedule is below. Come to one of our locations and meet the author Michele Bowman and the staff member that put it all together, Dot Siler!

• Freedom Regional Library-Monday, August 16-Time 1:00pm
• Independence Regional Library-Monday , August 16-Time 6:30pm
• Main Library-Tuesday, August 17-Time: 12:30pm
• Hickory Grove Library-Tuesday-August 17-Time: 5:30pm
• University City Regional Library-August 18-Time 12:00pm

Storytime in Spanish

2010-07-23T08:17:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday morning our Bilingual Outreach Coordinator, Veronica Corral, goes out in the community to hold a storytime in Spanish, focusing on early literacy. As you can see, her sessions attract quite a crowd! Last week drew over 30 participants including several moms and kids of all ages, although Veronica’s focus is on children ages birth through 5.

It might sound like no small feat to keep the attention of so many children, but Veronica was quite the entertaining storyteller and the kids were eager to participate.

This session focused on the early literacy building block of vocabulary, or knowing the names of things. As she read aloud, Veronica explained certain words the children might be unfamiliar with, using synonyms that might be more familiar.

Another way to build your child’s vocabulary is just to talk to your child more, using many words and a variety of words and explaining words that might be new. Also, you can expand on things your child says, encouraging him or her to speak in complete sentences. Reading books with different vocabulary from normal conversation helps, and remember, language skills grow faster if your child hears positive feedback, so be encouraging while keeping things fun!

Print is Everywhere!

2010-07-20T10:28:00.001-07:00

Last Tuesday evening, Amy Kukla returned to Pride and Joy Daycare for a parent workshop, again focusing on the print awareness module of our Jump Start Reading at Home program. Amy explained that print awareness is knowing that print is everywhere and knowing how to follow print on a page. Parents learned tips on little ways in everyday life to help their children become more aware of print, such as making a list together with kids before going shopping, and pointing out the signs of different stores that you shop at, including the sale signs and the words on different items once in the store.

To help kids learn to follow print on a page, Amy shared tips parents could use when reading a book together with their child, including pointing out the words on a page as they are read aloud, and encouraging the child to help turn the pages, to teach him or her how to handle a book and that in English we read from left to right.

Amy encouraged parents to have fun as they explore the world of print with their children, and suggested fun print awareness activities to do together, such as making a photo scrapbook of pictures taken on a "scavenger hunt" of print in the community - photos of familiar street signs, the signage of neighborhood stores, etc. Print is everywhere - have fun exploring it!

Outreach for Refugees

2010-07-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday, Amy Kukla reads aloud to refugee children while Refugee Support Services of the Carolinas connects their parents to information about Medicaid, food stamps, schools, and other resources to help them become self-sufficient and empower them to thrive in the United States. But Amy has done more than just keep the kids busy. She has worked to teach skills to prepare them for school here in America, and has seen some remarkable transformations already.

The children were not always as engaged in the storytimes as they are now. According to Rachel Humphries of Refugee Support Services, when Amy first started working with them, the kids were too afraid to participate at all. They wouldn't go near or even look at her. In her first session, Amy sat down and sang sing-along songs by herself.

But gradually, both the children and their parents began to warm up to her as she began to gain their trust. At last week's storytime, little ones climbed in her lap as she read aloud. More than just a fun distraction, Amy's sessions teach the children concepts they'll need to know when they enter school, such as the names of colors, how to handle a book, and how to behave and participate in a storytime. Parents learn about the important role they can play in their children's education, and of the tools and resources the library offers to help them achieve success.

Of course, the kids also get to pick up some fun cultural knowledge along the way, including learning English words for the sounds animals make, classic nursery rhymes, and even how to do the hokey-pokey!

Jump Start Reading at Home

2010-07-16T11:55:00.000-07:00

Last week, Amy Kukla read for two storytime sessions at Pride and Joy Daycare. This time, the focus was on print awareness. Reading to a group of 1-2 year olds (above), Amy tracked her finger under the words as she read them aloud - this is to help children begin to understand that the words printed on a page have meaning. At the end of the session, she passed out books to the children just to build their experience in knowing how to handle a book and turn pages.

During her session with the 3-4 year olds (right), Amy began to open a book upside down. The kids caught her right away - a great sign that they have an understanding of how books work. Reading logs were passed out at both sessions - children can keep track of the hours they read or are read to, earn points and redeem them for prizes at the Library.

Both sessions were kept fun and exciting by starting and ending with a sing-along, as well as short playtimes with toy rattles and a flannel board that tied in to one of the stories. Above all, reading should be FUN!

Stay tuned - later this week, Amy will share more print awareness tips at a parent workshop at Pride and Joy, to show parents how to jump start their children's reading at home. For more on Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Jump Start Reading at Home program, visit the program blog at cmlearlyliteracy.blogspot.com.

Spanish-language Basic Computer Skills classes at the Latin American Coalition & Cornelius Library

2010-07-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

Since you’re visiting this blog, chances are you’ve probably got some pretty good computer skills – maybe you even take them for granted. But what if, due to language and other barriers, you’d never had the chance to develop those skills?

That’s where our Spanish-language basic computer skills classes come in to help. Funded through grants from Dollar General and the American Library Association, the program starts with the very basics – how to turn on the computer, how to use a mouse, etc. – and covers material all the way up to using a flash drive, e-mail attachments and the internet. Instructor Kristina Bergan instructs the classes, which are offered at two locations: the Latin American Coalition and the Cornelius Library.

Reyna (right) enrolled in the class at the Latin American Coalition because she wants to pursue the better job opportunities available to those who know how to use a computer.

Andres (left) has family in other countries. He already had an e-mail account, but wanted to learn more skills so that he’d be able to understand and use it better. After some basic typing exercises, he went on to learn how to send e-mails and even attach his own photos to share with his relatives.

At the Cornelius branch, a married couple, Cornelio and Elma (above), took the class together. Cornelio wanted to gain computer skills because he is asked to use one at work. Elma enrolled because she said teachers give homework and projects to their kids, expecting parents to be able to help their children look up information. She also wanted to learn how to access the website of the school her children attend.

Victoria (right) also thought it was very important to know how to use her kids' school websites, but mostly she wanted to build her computer skills in order to become more independent. She didn't like always having to rely on others to provide her with answers whenever she had a question - she wanted to be able to access the answers herself. "You can look for information about anything, using a computer. You don't have to ask anyone - it's all right there." (Translated from Spanish)

Storytime for Adults?

2010-06-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

In a way, yes! A key part of our Jump Start Reading at Home early literacy program is our parent workshop series, in which we help inform and assist parents in their critical role as their child’s first teacher. Last night at Seigle Avenue Church, Yvonne Thomas lead a workshop where she modeled storytelling skills for parents. This week’s emphasis was on vocabulary building. Studies show that children who enter school with larger vocabularies do better academically and are better readers, so Yvonne shared some tips with the parents on how to get their children engaged in learning more words.

Dialogic reading (asking “what” questions) is a great way to teach vocabulary and help your child give more complete descriptions about what he or she sees. As she read the story aloud, Yvonne paused to give advice and examples of what kinds of questions parents could ask while reading the same story aloud to their own children. In general, some vocabulary-building storytime tips include:

Point out the names of things your child may not know
Ask "what" questions - like "What's this?" or "What's this called?"
Follow answers with more questions
Repeat what your child says, to reinforce correct answers
Help your child with answers as needed
Ask open-ended questions, and ask your child to say more
Expand what your child says, to fill in the little words and add detail
Follow your child's interests
Have fun!