Emergent Literacy Matters

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Emergent Literacy Matters
Grace Horsman Sherri Read

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Research Shows

• ? Children who have not already developed some
  basic literacy skills before they enter school
  are three to four times more likely to drop out
  in later years.
• Charlotte Reads, 2007

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Emergent Literacy Matters

• ? An initiative designed to provide programs
  with support in developing emergent
  literacy-rich child care environments
• ? Funded by Smart Start of Mecklenburg County
• ? Administered by Child Care Resources Inc.

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Recruitment

• Recruitment letters
• Orientation session
• Referrals
• On-site screening visits

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Eligibility

• ? 3, 4, and 5 star programs, in Mecklenburg
  County
• ? Has provided child care for a minimum of three
  years
• Every classroom in the program is expected to
  participate except More _at_ Four Classrooms
• A willingness to serve children on subsidy

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Eligibility

• Classroom staff
• have a minimum of two years of early care and
  education experience
• all lead teachers must have completed a minimum
  of two college level-credit bearing courses
  (excluding credential)
• 75 of all lead teachers must have
  completed three college level credit bearing
  courses (excluding credential)

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Priority

• Currently serving children receiving child care
  subsidy
• of children on child care subsidy
• Prior training on The Creative Curriculum
• Currently using The Creative Curriculum

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Initiative Design

• Emergent Literacy Matters consist of
• 1 Project Manager
• 1 Literacy Specialist
• Operating budget of 153,000.00
• 16 Centers, 8 FCCH/CIR

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Initiative Design

• Two Cohorts
• August to January Cohort 1
• January to June Cohort 2
• Child care sites may indicate a preference
• Cohort 1 or Cohort 2
• ? Training
• The Creative Curriculum
• Literacy The Creative Curriculum Approach
• ? Literacy Assessment and Literacy Improvement
  Plans

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Benefits

• Technical Assistance
• 5 visits per classroom during the cohort
  period
• Literacy Kits Classroom Materials to Enhance
  Literacy
• rotated among the programs
• Ongoing Communication
• with facilitators and other participants via
• e-newsletters and email
• Support for Family Literacy Initiatives
• Resource Book

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Administrator Responsibilities

• Attend Training
• ? Commit to ensuring that all staff attend
  training
• Support implementation of the Literacy
  Improvement Plans
• Submit monthly attendance reports

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Administrator Responsibilities

• Submit weekly activity plans for staff
• Remain in good standing with NC DCD
• Submit a good faith deposit
• 150 for centers/ 50 for FCCH/CIR
• Refunded if all classrooms achieve 60 on the
  post assessment

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Staff Responsibilities

• Attend training
• Foundation of The Creative Curriculum
• Literacy The Creative Curriculum Approach
• ? Complete classroom follow-up activities
• Submit Weekly Activity Plans
• Be available for Pre and Post Literacy
  assessments
• Work with the facilitator to develop and
  implement a Literacy Improvement Plan
• Participate in technical assistance

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Success Stories

• I have learned so much over these past few days.
  I cant wait to start using The Creative
  Curriculum.
• I will work at building family relationships.
• Participants indicated that they will be much
  more purposeful and intentional about their
  weekly planning for children.
• Directors felt that they are better prepared to
  talk to families about The Creative Curriculum
  and the benefits that using this curriculum
  offers to their child.
• I have enhanced literacy throughout the
  classroom environment and offer the children much
  more age-appropriate opportunities during the
  day.

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Comments

• Kalise is writing, I didn't use any ditto
  sheets, or tracing sheets, just plain paper. Each
  morning Kalise reads Dr. Seuss ABC's to the
  younger kids, (she knows all her letters by
  sight), then we mold alphabet play-dough and
  sometimes she reads the sign language alphabet.
  These lessons are initiated by her I put the
  objects out for the children and they go for
  it!!  Today she wrote the letters A through P can
  you believe it? I named a letter and she wrote
  it. I've been teaching Emergent Literacy/Creative
  Curriculum and love the program, but haven't seen
  results like this. Youve taught me so much and
  brought a level of quality to my daycare that I
  couldn't have done on my own. I am forever
  grateful!!
• Carol, FCCH Provider