Entries For: November 2009

What is happening to kids in our state now will shape the rest of their lives. Our youngest kids can't wait until after the recession to grow up. Governor Gregoire is making budget decisions right now.

Send her a message and urge her to protect our progress on early learning in Washington State. Foundation for Early Learning in conjunction with The Early Learning Action Alliance (ELAA), is participating in an ambitious campaign to stop cuts to early learning before they happen.

Together with the more than 40 organizations, we're sending 5,000 messages to Governor Gregoire urging her to protect early learning opportunities for kids. Hundreds of postcards are already on their way. Business leaders and law enforcement professionals all over the state are gathering signatures on letters of support.

Join in. Send a message, now!

Foundation for Early Learning is delighted to feature a guest blog post from Early Learning Public Library Partnership member Debra Peterson, Library Director of Sedro-Woolley Public Library. If you are interested in being featured in the Foundation's blog, please contact Joel Ballezza, Communications Manager at joel@earlylearning.org.

The Sedro-Woolley Public Library serves a rural community of some 10,000 residents. We are an independent municipal facility. We have been focusing in the arena of early learning for over four years now.

One of our newest programs is our Play & Learn for children ages 4 and 5. My Children’s Specialist, Kathy Brewer and I, toured several diverse Play & Learn groups in the Seattle area – including one at a branch of the Seattle Public Library, two years ago. We decided then to start a group here. Thanks to excellent training (a two-day workshop) provided by Child Care Resource & Referral, plus a start-up grant from Child Care Resource & Referral/Volunteers of America – we began one this year. Literacy and school readiness skills are a prime motivator.

Our 60-75 minute weekly sessions include: storytelling with picture books; a craft; an activity; and a physical component (a set of simple rubber mats with tasks pictured on them – jump, skip, toe touch, etc. spread around the Library). 

Some of our favorite teaching materials have been a 3-D wooden community puzzle complete with fire station, and cars/trucks on wheels; a mystery guessing box with small objects hidden inside; and a flannel board story set.  We decided to add a science and math component in our last two cycles, with the addition of our What’s the Big Idea kit. So each week we have a different theme – sink or float (we made aluminum boats and filled them with simple household materials, i.e. buttons, rocks, etc.); astronomy (a small portable planetarium); weather (thermometer). The kids especially loved the measurement units, we gave each child a small ruler & tape measure – which they took to the park; construction (straws and connectors); shapes (made tangrams from foam); and magnets. Each unit has themed books as part of the program too.

The parent/caregiver remains with their child and actively participates. Actually, we don’t know who is having the most fun with this project: library staff, the parents, or the kids. It is relatively low-key, easy, and not too expensive to produce. The families are really enthusiastic about the experience. We are currently finishing our third round of sessions – each lasts roughly eight weeks. We definitely plan to continue in 2010.

If anyone would like more information, please don’t hesitate to give me a call, or an e-mail @ (360) 855-1166 (the Library opens at noon) or ddpeters@fidalgo.net.      

Does $25 make a difference?

When you are a new parent living in a rural and remote part of the state, the answer is YES!

Many parents and caregivers in rural communities struggle on a daily basis to find quality, affordable childcare within reach. Or a preschool program within budget.

That's why Foundation for Early Learning is launching a critical new initiative and we need your help.

Can you give $10, $25, $50 or more to ensure that all children have a strong start in school?

Any donation, big or small, can help us reach our goal of $50,000 by Dec 31st to fund our outreach in rural and remote communities of Washington State.

I recently received a call at the Foundation from a parent named Lorrie. Sadly, her story was not unusual. She told me that her rural county has just one preschool program. The school is an hour's drive away and she can't afford the tuition for her son, a four year-old with special needs.

She wants to look forward to his first day of school, but instead, she's worried he won't be ready. The only option available to her is too expensive and too far way. 

Please make a gift today of $10, $25, $50 or more and you can make a difference. Few resources exist for families in rural and remote communities, but the Foundation can help with your support.

Donate today by completing clicking the button below.

P.S. Want to make an even bigger impact? Join our cause on Facebook and invite your friends. Also, below is a video from Katrina Anderson, Director of Wee Care of Stevenson speaking about what school-ready means. This is what we hope to deliver with this new initiative.