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SCLSNJ Expands Early Literacy Initiative to Include Kindergarten Readiness Programs, Support
About Blog Post
Oct 7, 2021
by Pressroom
The National Institute of Health and Child Development (NICHD) states that “a child's home, family, and daily life have a strong effect on his or her ability to learn.”
Since caregivers are their child's first and best teacher, the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey’s (SCLSNJ) SOARING (Supportive Opportunities for Achieving Reading in the Next Generation) initiative was designed to help caregivers navigate early childhood programming and resources, learn the different strategies used to support early literacy through each developmental stage, and replicate those strategies at home.
"At SCLSNJ we understand the many demands on caregivers' time,” said Katie Winjum, youth services librarian. “Through SCLSNJ's SOARING initiative, we've taken this limited time into consideration and shared a collection of value-loaded resources and accessible tips, and created early literacy based programs and storytimes. SOARING is sure to keep children entertained while creating essential bonding time between them and their caregivers.”
SOARING Into Kindergarten
Studies have identified the “kindergarten transition as a key time for fostering family educational engagement” and that children’s “skills and development are strongly influenced by their families and through their interactions with other people and environments before coming to school.”
As a result, SCLSNJ has expanded the SOARING initiative to include a kindergarten readiness series that supports caregivers as they help their children build the skills necessary for school readiness.
“For the past year and a half, preschoolers have had limited opportunities to participate in activities that grow their minds and expand their horizons,” said Jenna Galley, youth services librarian. “The SOARING Into Kindergarten program series helps close that gap with diverse books and interactive activities that incorporate skills outlined in the New Jersey Preschool Curriculum and Assessment.”
Caregivers and children ages 4-5 will discover ways to prepare for kindergarten by exploring skills that support the five domains of school readiness: language development, approaches to learning, cognition and general knowledge, social-emotional development, and physical well-being and motor development.
“As SOARING Into Kindergarten has been a passion project of mine for some time, I am delighted that SCLSNJ is adding this kindergarten readiness series to our SOARING program offerings,” said Christine Jansen, manager of youth services programming and collaborations, public services. “Since caregivers are often asking us what they can do to get their children ready for kindergarten, we created a six-week series that connects caregivers to activities that can reinforce kindergarten readiness skills at the Library and at home.”
Each hour-long, weekly session will focus on one of the practices of early literacy skills: talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing, plus self-help and motor skills, and will provide caregivers with supporting activities that they can do with their children as part of their everyday routine.
“We know it’s an important time and we want to make sure your child starts the first day of kindergarten confident, enthusiastic, and ready to learn,” said Terry Gibbons, youth services librarian. “Each SOARING Into Kindergarten session includes creative and fun interaction stations where the adults and children practice the readiness skills presented. Participating families will also get a list of activities they can continue to do at home, outside, at the store, or even in the car that will reinforce these skills.”
“Adding this extra level of SOARING that focuses on school readiness will help children to build their confidence and enthusiasm for learning,” said Mary Nunn, youth services library assistant.
Discover the virtual SOARING Into Kindergarten series:
- Talking: November 1, 10-10:30 a.m. Register now: sclsnj.libnet.info/event/5538387.
- Singing: November 8, 10-10:30 a.m. Register now: sclsnj.libnet.info/event/5538413.
- Reading: November 15, 10-10:30 a.m. Register now: sclsnj.libnet.info/event/5538459.
- Writing: November 22, 10-10:30 a.m. Register now: sclsnj.libnet.info/event/5538463.
- Playing: November 29, 10-10:30 a.m. Register now: sclsnj.libnet.info/event/5538471.
- Self-Help and Motor Skills: December 6, 10-10:30 a.m. Register now: sclsnj.libnet.info/event/5538477.