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Get Ready to Read! News Briefs
February 2007 Preschool, Childcare, and Early Literacy New Reports on Early Childhood Education Released
The What Works Clearinghouse has released two new reports on early childhood education—Interactive Shared Book Reading and Phonological Awareness Training plus Letter Knowledge Training. The reports focus on interventions used in center-based settings with three to five-year-olds in preschool and concentrate on language, literacy, math, and cognition. Quality Counts 2007: From Cradle to Career
Quality Counts, a yearly chat from Education Week, investigates which states provide their youth with the best opportunity to succeed academically, based on an index measuring the importance of education throughout a lifetime and the need to begin education from preschool onward. (Education Week registration required for access). Changes to the U.S. Education System Recommended
The New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce has released "Tough Choices or Tough Times," a new report that suggests some large-scale changes to the U.S. education system, such as high-quality early education for all four year olds and at-risk three year olds. (PDF download is 28 pages). Libraries Working Together to Promote Early Literacy
Family Place Libraries, a nationwide network of children’s libraries, has launched a new Web site about how libraries can help build healthy communities by working with families. The new site includes information on training and events, useful resources, and steps that libraries can take to become part of the network. Stay tuned! Get Ready to Read! and Family Place Libraries are partnering to develop new resources for librarians and parents. New Web Site Promotes Evidence-Based Early Literacy Practices
The Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL), a research-to-practice technical assistance center, has launched a new Web site to support the use of evidence-based early literacy practices by caregivers of young children aged birth to five years-old. Full-Day Kindergarten Students Show Higher Gains than Half-Day Students
A new study on the benefits of full-time kindergarten indicates that full-day kindergarten students have significantly higher gains on literacy exams than half-day students, with English language learners showing the most notable gains. The study, based in Utah, is promising, as the Utah legislature considers implementing full-day kindergarten state-wide. Benefits of High-Quality Family Literacy Programs Highlighted
A new policy brief from the National Human Services Assembly emphasizes the benefits of high-quality family literacy programs, including enhancing the bond between parent and child, strengthening connections from family to family and to institutions, revitalizing neighborhood networks, and strengthening the community as a whole. (The PDF version of this brief is 24 pages). Closing the Achievement Gap with Preschool Curricula
This new brief, part of a series of publications from the Pathways to Early School Success project from the National Center for Children in Poverty, provides a blueprint for policymakers, early learning administrators, teachers, families, community leaders, and researchers to use intentional preschool curricula to help low-income young children close the achievement gap in literacy and math. Doctors Speak Out for Early Learning
Docs for Tots is a national organization of nearly 900 active doctors in more than twenty states advocating for high quality public preschool. Find out about this organization and more in the December/January issue of Preschool Matters. Pros and Cons to Web Searching for Parents of Children with Disabilities
A new article,"Providing Web-Based Support for Families with Young Children with Disabilities," from Infants and Young Children, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of Internet use for parents of children with disabilities as they seek information, services, and emotional support.
Conferences: National Association of School Psychologists 44th Annual Conference
From March 27-31 in New York, NY, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) will host their 39th Annual Conference, “Responsiveness: The Fourth ‘R.’” NACCRA Annual Policy Symposium
At the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRA) Annual Policy Symposium from February 25-March 3, 2007, in Washington, DC, participants can learn about and share the latest in policy, research, and best practices in child care. LDA 44th Annual International Conference
The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) will hold their Annual International Conference from February 14-17, 2007, in Pittsburgh, PA. Workshop topics include Medical and Mental Health, Teacher Preparation, Public Policy, and more in the field of learning disabilities.
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