Raising a Reader

photo taken by Flickr user B&K WeaverEarly Literacy

Early Literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they can actually do it themselves. From the earliest experiences; babies chewing on books to your preschooler "writing" a grocery list for you, all literacy interactions are important. Parents and Caregivers - you are your child's first teacher.

You can help your child learn those important skills now so that they will be successful in school, and later in life. You can also lay the groundwork to show them that learning can be FUN! Don't worry about flash cards and programs. Instead, have some fun with your child and engage in activities that are fun, natural and relaxed like playing games, singing songs and telling stories. Your child will grow up associating pleasure with learning.

Researchers agree that children are more likely to become good readers if they start school with three sets of accomplishments:

  • Oral language skills and phonological awareness: Children are able to comprehend and to express themselves with a wide range of words. They are able to distinguish the sounds as well as the meaning of words.
     
  • Print awareness and letter knowledge: Children have learned that the black and white marks on a page represent spoken words. They are able to name the letters of the alphabet.
     
  • Motivation to learn and appreciation for literary forms: Children have been exposed to a wide variety of literary experiences and have learned to love books and stories.

For more information about the six identified Pre-Literacy Skills children need to develop into strong readers and what you can do to help, download a printable guide for parents from the Public Library Association (PLA) and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) here.
 

Raising a reader

  • Begin when your child is born and spend time reading every day.
  • Sing to your baby.
  • Repeat nursery rhymes.
  • Visit the library. Ask about storytimes. Borrow books to share with your baby at home.
  • Choose books with colorful pictures and simple words--or no words at all.
  • Read with expression--or just tell the story in your own words.
  • Hold the book so your child can see the pictures clearly.
  • Let your baby play with the book.
  • Encourage your toddler to point out objects, repeat words, and talk about the story.
  • Reread your child's favorite books over and over again.
  • Use the technique of dialogic reading to help a child stay actively involved with a story and develop reading comprehension. Instead of reading the story straight through, ask the child open-ended questions about the story: "Why do you think Goldilocks ate Baby Bear's porridge?" "What do you think will happen next?"
  • Read or tell stories in the language you are most comfortable with. It doesn't have to be English!
  • Help your child develop phonological awareness --the understanding that words are made up of smaller sounds--by playing games with the sounds of words and repeating rhymes.
  • Tell stories about your family and your culture.
  • Encourage older children to read to their younger brothers and sisters.
  • Be an example to your children; let them see you read books too. 

More tips for book sharingBorn to Read logo

  • Set aside a special time each day, such as nap time, bedtime, or after meals.
  • Share books when you and your child are both in a relaxed mood.
  • Take advantage of "waiting" times to share books--on trips, at the doctor's office, in line at the grocery store.
  • Reading even 5 or 10 minutes a day to young children helps them get ready to read on their own.

 

This information can be found on the Born to Read website of the Association of LIbrary Service to Children (ALSC).

 

Recommended Web Sites:

National Center for Family Literacy for suggestions on other family literacy projects

Reading is Fundamental for literacy information broken down by your child's age and including a section for the Whole Family. Also links to the new site Leading to Reading with interactive literacy building games, books, articles and advice to help you in your quest to raise a reader.

Zero to Three offers parents information on children's brain development, developmental milestones, early literacy, and choosing quality child care.

 

Bilingual Books: English/Spanish

Looking for picture books in another languange that you can actually understand? Here are some of our BILINGUAL books in Spanish and English. Check them out!

Stories on the Spectrum- Winter Dates

Our monthly Stories on the Spectrum program, a sensory-based storytime for children on the autistic spectrum between the ages of 3 and 8, will continue throughout this winter. 

Children with autism or other sensory-integration disorders, and their families, are invited to join us this Saturday, January 23rd at 11:00am in the Children's Library for some songs, a story, and a sensory activity. 

Please pre-register by phone or email: you can call the Children's Library at (203)669-5243 or email Kiera Parrott at kparrott@darienlibrary.org.

Winter Dates (program begins at 11:00am):

Saturday, January 23rd

Saturday, February 27th

Saturday, March 20th

Saturday, April 10th

 

2010 Notable Books for Younger Readers

Each year a committee of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) identifies the best of the best in children's books.   Being considered a "notable" book means that it is important, distinguished, or outstanding.   They are books that are of especially commendable quality, exhibit venturesome creativity, and reflect and encourage children's interests in exemplary ways.

The Notables list also includes the 2010 Newbery, Caldecott,  Belpré, Sibert, Geisel, and Batchelder Award and Honor books.

 

 

Here are the 2010 Notable Books for Younger Readers:

Winter Storytime Session 1 Registration Is Now CLOSED

Registration is now closed for this program. Check back for Session 2 registration in March, 2010!

Winter

Register:  Monday, January 11 – Monday, January 25

Session:  Monday, February 1 – Friday, March 12

 

Important Enrollment Information -

  • Registration is a lottery and participants will be contacted by Saturday January 30th, 2010 for Winter Session 1 placement.
  • Registered Storytimes are for children whose parents are Darien residents, employed in Darien full-time, or contributors to the Darien Library Annual Campaign at the $300 level.

Storytimes are for babies, toddlers and children up to age 6. The library offers a variety of other programs for children up to age 12.  

These programs are developmentally appropriate for the stated ages, though we offer a two week grace period for children on the cusp. Parents and caregivers can register infants and 1-year-olds based on their ability to walk. For two-year-olds and up, please register children based on their age at the start of the storytime session.

 

 

Giggles and Rhymes -

Pre-walking babies and a parent/caregiver. Join us for fingerplays, songs, rhymes, and movement.

 

Monday 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday 9:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Born to Read -

Walkers (up to 24 months) and a parent/caregiver. This fast-paced storytime for lively toddlers includes books, songs, fingerplays, and movement.


Tuesday 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Thursday 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

 

Side by Side -

2-year-olds and a parent/caregiver. This introduction to storytime features books, rhymes, and movement activities.

Tuesday 11:30 - Noon

Wednesday 3:15 - 3:45 p.m.

Thursday 9:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Totally Preschool -

3 and 4-year-olds. Join us for stories, act-outs, and songs.

Tuesday 1:30 - 2:00 p.m.

Friday 9:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Friday 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Bookworms -

5 and 6-year-olds. A more sophisticated storytime for older children that includes more complex stories - folk tales, humor, and adventure.

 

Wednesday 4:15 - 4:45 p.m.

 

 

Children's Programs the first year in the NEW Library

We've been in the NEW Library for almost a year!  What has your program experience been for children in their first five years?

Here's a small survey to determine what days and times are preferable, and other questions to help us tweak and improve.

Thank you so, so much!

Two New Series for Beginning Readers!

We just got in two wonderful new series for beginning readers: the Max books and the Katie Woo books.  Both of these series can be found in our Learn to Read section (in the catalog, the call number is F5 Learn). 

     

Want more?  Ask us about other great series for children who are learning to read!

Fall Storytime Session 2 - Registration Now Closed

The second session of storytimes will be starting soon. The lottery is now open and runs from Monday September 28th through Monday October 12th.

Storytimes are for babies, toddlers and children up to age 6. The library offers other programs for children up to age 12. The programs are developmentally appropriate for the stated ages, though we offer a two week grace period for children on the cusp.

 

Fall 2

Register:  Monday, September 28 – Monday, October 12

Session:  Monday, October 19 – Friday, November 27

 

Fall 2009 sessions are 6 weeks in length.

 

Register here for Giggles and Rhymes

Pre-walking babies and a parent/caregiver. Join us for fingerplays, songs, rhymes, and movement.

Monday 9:30 - 10 a.m.

Tuesday 9:30 - 10 a.m.

           

Register here for Born to Read

Walkers (up to 24 months) and a parent/caregiver. This fast-paced storytime for lively toddlers includes books, songs, fingerplays, and movement.

Monday 3:15 – 3:45 p.m.

Tuesday 10:30 - 11 a.m.

Wednesday 10:30 – 11 a.m.

Thursday 10:30 - 11 a.m.

Register here for Side by Side

2-year-olds and a parent/caregiver. This introduction to storytime features books, rhymes, and movement activities.

Tuesday 11:30 – 12 Noon

Wednesday 3:15 – 3:45 p.m.

Thursday 9:30 - 10 a.m.

 

Register here for Totally Preschool

3 and 4-year-olds. Join us for stories, act-outs, and songs.

Tuesday 1:30 - 2 p.m.

Wednesday 1:30 - 2 p.m.

Friday 9:30 - 10 a.m.

Friday 10:30 a.m.

 

Register here for Bookworms

5 and 6-year-olds. A more sophisticated storytime for older children that includes more complex stories - folk tales, humor, and adventure.

Tuesday 4:15 - 4:45 p.m.

 

Darien Library drop-in storytimes and programs information will be available at darienlibrary.org/events/calendar/kids.

 

How to Register

Parents/caregivers may register online during the specified registration period. Registered storytimes are for children whose parents are Darien residents, employed full-time in Darien, or Friends of the Darien Library who contribute annually at the $300 level. Parents will need a Library card to register.

Please contact the Children's Room for more information.

childrensstaff@darienlibrary.org

 

Tune in to Literacy

Enhance your child's literacy development by listening to music and dancing to a great beat. By tuning in, you can help your little one learn new vocabulary, acquire rhythm and rhyming abilities, and focus on sound patterns. These pre-literacy skills provide a solid foundation for success in future reading and writing acquisition. Who would have thought learning could be so much fun?

Start today by checking out these staff favorites:

 

Fall Storytime Registration 2009

Fall 2009 Session 1 REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED:

Fall 1 

Register:  Monday, August 17 – Monday, August 31

Session:  Tuesday, September 8 – Friday, October 16

 

Important Enrollment Information -

  • Registration is a lottery and participants will be contacted by Saturday September 5, 2009 for Fall Session 1 registration.
  • Registered Storytimes are for children whose parents are Darien residents, employed in Darien full-time, or contributors to the Darien Library Annual Campaign at the $300 level.

Storytimes are for babies, toddlers and children up to age 6. The library offers a variety of other programs for children up to age 12.  

These programs are developmentally appropriate for the stated ages, though we offer a two week grace period for children on the cusp. Parents and caregivers can register infants and 1-year-olds based on their ability to walk. For two-year-olds and up, please register children based on their age at the start of the storytime session.

 

 

Giggles and Rhymes

Pre-walking babies and a parent/caregiver. Join us for fingerplays, songs, rhymes, and movement.

 

Monday 9:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday 9:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Born to Read

Walkers (up to 24 months) and a parent/caregiver. This fast-paced storytime for lively toddlers includes books, songs, fingerplays, and movement.

Monday 3:15 - 3:45pm

Tuesday 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Thursday 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

 

Side by Side

2-year-olds and a parent/caregiver. This introduction to storytime features books, rhymes, and movement activities.

Tuesday 11:30 - Noon

Wednesday 3:15 - 3:45 p.m.

Thursday 9:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Totally Preschool

3 and 4-year-olds. Join us for stories, act-outs, and songs.

Tuesday 1:30 - 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday 1:30 - 2:00 p.m.

Friday 9:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Bookworms

5 and 6-year-olds. A more sophisticated storytime for older children that includes more complex stories - folk tales, humor, and adventure.

 

Tuesday 4:15 - 4:45 p.m.

 

 

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