Original Source: The State Journal
By Sam Smith
Make connections to everyday life whenever possible. This is the underlying force toward kindergarten readiness, the primary mission of the United Way Born Learning Academy.
Brittany Miller attended her third of three sessions Thursday at Early Learning Village’s own Born Learning Academy, now in its first year.
She shared with fellow parents in attendance that her 4-year-old son Elijah has been showing more self-reliance with getting dressed.
“He can get so frustrated but came to me today and unbuttoned all his buttons,” she said. “He often just wants to rip his whole shirt off, but he’s been getting better. He’s a 4-year-old going on 40.”
Miller said his favorite book to read with her right now is How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
“These workshops have been giving me a better understanding on how to coach him in a positive way because I can get frustrated where I want him to do well,” she said. “Sometimes, we parents think we have to shove something down their throat, but it helps to realize they are people too. If they don’t want to read, don’t force them too.”
The Born Learning Academy aims to sharpen early parental education skills and strengthen children’s readiness for kindergarten.
Ready, set, read
Readiness is measured in three domains: academic/cognitive, language development and physical development. Compared to the state average, Franklin County is behind in all three areas.
Less than half of incoming students are ready for kindergarten, according to a study by the Kentucky Center for Education and Workforce Statistics.
United Way of Franklin County, Toyota and Franklin County Schools partnered together with the shared goal of changing those statistics for the better.
Westridge Elementary School was the first in Franklin County to have a Born Learning Academy, and this year marks the first for Early Learning Village’s own academy.
Principal of ELV, Larry Murphy, said the need to increase the number of students coming to schools ready to succeed is apparent and must be addressed.
“Large numbers of students come to kindergarten and aren’t ready for school,” he said. “Fifty percent across the state arrive not ready to learn.”
ELV’s sessions are the second Thursday of each month. On Thursday, ELV kicked off its “Ready to Read!” workshop centered on building children’s language skills.
“This workshop focuses on the parents while the kids are taken into childcare for about 20 minutes,” Carroll said. “Workshop content is delivered by the staff, and then parents and children are united so we can watch and see the various models of behavior. We make gentle suggestions here and there, including the dinner.
“It’s important to foster parent-child interaction and assess what they know and what they have learned.”
Following dinner, parents gathered in the library last Thursday and took a pre-survey:
• How can you make reading fun for children?
• Why does play encourage literacy?
• What should adults ask during reading?
Kendra Quire, preschool teacher and Born Learning Academy’s facilitator, walked the parents through the session with a presentation about the and long-lasting effects of shared reading.
Parents formed a circle and shared moments of progress they’ve measured in their children since the last session.
Play it by ear
Quire said children learn through play, that making connections to real life can have a long-lasting, positive experience.
“Read The Nutcracker to your children and then take them to see the play or watch the movie,” Quire said. “Read The Gingerbread Man and then bake gingerbread men with them. Sing the words. Read the same book. With music and repetition, children are better able to retain words and phrases.
“Hold the book, show them the words and pictures. Point at the words. Pause to allow children to finish a repeated phrase. Ask questions about the story and make connections to it.”
Quire said read to children what interests them.
“Remember, a child needs to stay connected,” she said. “It’s OK if they’re fussy or uninterested. They’ll come back and finish it or it will be another day.”
Quire said it was essential to take everyday moments and make them educational, to keep from waiting until a certain age to interact with children.
RSVP, easy as ABC
“We’re born learners,” Quire said. “Read to your kids. Read and talk to them.”
Parents then united with their children for a reading session. Miller showed Elijah one of the books he had just received from the program.
“Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!” he said.
Miller read the book with him, asking him to point at certain letters and to tell her what he thought was taking place in the pictures.
“Look, the tree is bending over,” he said. “And the letters are falling down.”
With heightened parental involvement at earlier ages and an increase in shared reading, perhaps the number of students unprepared for kindergarten will also fall down.