Title: Early Literacy Practices

Day of the week/Time: Varies based on staff schedule. Training is 1 1/2 hours.

Audience: Mandatory training for all new staff and a refresher training every 3 years.

Goals: Participants will be able to name the five early literacy practices and examples of how caregivers/educators can implement them to work with children.

Reasoning for Training: This training will help staff understand what they or other resources can do to help support young children before they are able to read. It will also allow staff to give caregivers tips on how to encourage early literacy skills with their children.

Curriculum: The instructor will introduce the five early literacy practices (talking, singing, reading, writing, playing) and explain why they are important to help children develop early literacy skills. Examples of the practices will be provided for children ages birth-5. Resources to help caregivers learn about the practices and how to implement them with their children will be reviewed. Participants will work in small groups to match activities to the early literacy practice it corresponds with and brainstorm two more activities for each early literacy practice. There will be 20 minutes at the end to ask the instructor questions and explore materials.

Supplies: Handout that describes the five early literacy practices, why they are important, and activities that support the practice. Handout with resources inside and outside the library that support early literacy practices. Post it notes with the early literacy practices and activities for the matching activity. Books, music, and toys for children ages 0-5 that support early literacy practices.

Staff: 1 youth librarian.

Community Partners: N/A

Budget: $0, supplies are already in collection or included in general printing budget

Video Credit: Herrick District Library (Creator). (2017). Five early literacy practices for children[Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBNP4VhU9V8