Franklinton Ready4K Pre-Kindergarten Literacy Initiative
Overview
The goal of the Franklinton Pre-kindergarten Literacy Initiative (Ready4K) is to ensure that within five years 90% of five-year-old Franklinton children will have the necessary literacy skills and experiences for entering kindergarten. These include the recognition of the letters of the alphabet and their sounds, recognition of printed words, a growing vocabulary of simple words from everyday life, familiarity with age-appropriate books, experience with “the narrative”, and a growing desire to read. At present approximately 70% of Franklinton children entering kindergarten do not meet these requirements.
Ready4K will achieve this goal by empowering parents to introduce their children to the basics of literacy and by volunteer interaction with the children. It will employ four strategies…
- Distribution of Ready4K backpacks with early childhood books and literacy aids
- Monthly training for parents and literacy activities for the children in accessible
locations
- Monthly parent interaction with an assigned volunteer coach
Regular story reading sessions for the children in a neighborhood location
Partners
Ready4K is possible because of the support and participation of Franklinton public and private pre-schools, service agencies, congregations, and ministries. Financial support has been provided by the Franklinton Ministerial Association, Continental Building Systems Charity Fund, and The Columbus Foundation. Franklinton community partners include…
- Central Ohio Youth for Christ/ City Life Center
- Dana Elementary Pre-school
- Franklinton Branch Library
- Franklinton Ministerial Association
- Gladden Pre-school
- Lower Lights Community Church
- Mission Columbus
- Sullivant Elementary Pre-school
Program Description
The program will have three main elements.
Parent Enlistment and Literature Distribution
- Ready4K partners will enlist parents and their 4-5 year old children who have not entered kindergarten.
- Ready4K will provide parents and their children with backpacks with storybooks, and literacy aids such as alphabet letters, crayons, play money at the parent training sessions (see below).
- Parents will receive the first book at the initial training session and additional books each month.
- A celebration will be held at the conclusion of the program for parents and children.
Parent Training
- Parents will participate in a one-hour training session each month during the eight-month program. Trained volunteers will read and do literacy activities with the children during the session.
- The parents will receive simple instructions on how to use each new book and how to introduce essential literacy concepts to their children in everyday situations. In addition, a Ready4K coach will contact the parent during the month to assist them in using the literacy materials with their child, assess their progress in the program, and remind them of the upcoming meeting.
Story Reading Groups
The Franklinton Branch Library offers weekly story reading to children every Tuesday at 10 am and 1 pm.
Schedule
Ready4K will be offered twice in 2010-2011. One session runs from October to May; the second session begins in January and ends in August. For specific dates, times, and locations, see the Ready4K Information Sheet.
Application
Parents can enroll in the Ready4K October session by completing the application form and returning it to the Franklinton Branch Library, 1061 W. Town Street, by October 1, 2010. Applications for the January session must be returned by December 31, 2010.
