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An Infopeople Online Learning Course

Start:
December 3rd, 2013 12:00 PM
End:
January 6th, 2014 4:30 PM

Instructor: Colleen Willis

  • Would you like for your library to be an early literacy leader?
  • Are you ready to enhance your children’s activities with the inclusion of early literacy information for adults?
  • Do you want your library environment to be more language rich?

It has long been established that libraries play a role in preschool and early childhood education. The public library is often the first interaction children have with books. Our picture book collections, reader’s advisory, assistance to teachers and parents, and of course storytimes help guide children on the path to reading. So how can we make a difference when it comes to early literacy? This course will help you learn how to incorporate early literacy skills into your library programming and environments. You will be able to:

  • Design early literacy environments activities for use in your workplace
  • Choose library activities that will enhance literacy skills
  • Offer more outreach programs and broaden your early literacy partnership opportunities
  • Incorporate early literacy skills into reading programs

In this course experienced instructor Colleen Willis will help you explore how to create effective literacy rich environments through fun, educational activities. You will learn how to promote early literacy in family oriented programs and identify new partnership opportunities. Combine this information with your own creativity and you can make your library a literacy leader!

Course Description: During this course library staff will learn techniques and practical ideas for utilizing the six early literacy skills as a foundation for the development of library environments and family oriented library programs. Participants will design age-appropriate, literacy-rich program activities and environments such as: interactive bulletin boards, table top activities, play carpet time, literacy outreach bags, and family literacy night ideas that will support and encourage the role of the family in children’s reading development. Through assignment options and discussion forums, students will demonstrate and share their creative ideas and activities to use during program planning. After completion of this course learners will be armed with development and early literacy knowledge, ideas for putting families and literacy together, resources that will help stimulate early language and literacy skills and practical tips for partnering with other organizations in the support of early literacy.

NOTE: Because of the December holidays, there are five weeks in what would normally be a four-week course.

Preliminary Course Outline: Using an Internet connection and web browser, you will log in to the Infopeople online learning site and complete the following learning modules.

  • Week 1: The Library: Providing Leadership in Early Literacy
    • Test your early literacy know how
    • What is early literacy: 6 early literacy skills
    • Parental benefits
    • Bridges to literacy
    • Play pulls it all together
    • Barriers to literacy development
  • Week 2: Early Literacy Environments in the Library
    • Literacy in the children’s room
      • Interactive bulletin boards
      • Table-top ideas
      • Play carpet activities
    • Literacy during programming- best practices
      • Storytimes
      • School-age programs
  • Week 3: Creating Partnerships for Early Literacy: Families and other Organizations
    • Family Place Library
      • Designing a play environment
    • Family literacy night
    • Bringing programming to the home: literacy outreach bags
    • Literacy and partnerships
  • Week 4: The Role of Media in Early Literacy
    • Defining media literacy
    • Learning about media
    • Learning with media
    • Using media effectively
    • Choosing media
    • Getting families involved in learning with media

Time Required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend two hours per week, for a total of eight course hours. Each week's module contains readings and various options for assignments, discussions and online meetings. You can choose the options most relevant to your work and interests. Although you can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night, it is recommended that you complete each week's work within that week to stay in sync with other learners.

Who Should Take This Course: Anyone from the library community with an interest in establishing their library as a family literacy leader. This introductory course is intended for staff with a limited knowledge of early literacy environments who wish to advance their current skills.

Online Learning Details and System Requirements may be found at: infopeople.org/training/online_learning_details.

Course Start: This online learning course starts on Tuesday, December 3, 2013.

After the official end date for the course, the instructor will be available for limited consultation and support for two more weeks, and the course material will stay up for an additional two weeks after that. These extra weeks give those who have fallen behind time to work independently to complete the course.