December 2014 Dear Ready Readers Volunteer: Happy Holidays! Although it seems really hard to imagine, January will be here before you know it, and with the new year comes our new Ready Readers University support program! As discussed in last month’s newsletter, the Reader Café model gives participants an opportunity to come together and chat about areas of interest, hear from one another, even an expert if one is needed, in a casual format. Based on the feedback you provided, the topic for the January sessions will be… Effective Classroom Management Strategies If this is an area you are interested in chatting more about - either as a reader who experiences challenges or someone who has fabulous strategies that could benefit others - please join us! Wednesday, January 14th 1-2:30 pm Tuesday, January 20th 4:30-6 pm Thursday, January 22nd 10-11:30 am Each session will be capped at eight, to encourage close-knit discussion - please reserve your spot NOW! To sign up, please respond to the Sign-Up Genius email you’ll receive, or you can email or call Julia: [email protected] (314) 564-8070 Another set of Reader Cafés with new topics will take place in March and April. Our annual pilgrimage to the St. Louis County Library will be making its return in February. Stay tuned for more information... Happy reading! Julia Auch Early Childhood Literacy Specialist (314) 564-8070 or (314) 914-2125 [email protected] www.readyreaders.org Ready Readers’ program staff is available to answer your questions, assist you in the classroom, provide great read-aloud suggestions, and share ideas for enhancing your experience. Diane Sinclair, Volunteer Program Director, [email protected], 314-825-8751 Julia Auch, Early Childhood Literacy Specialist, [email protected], 314-914-2125 Nora Steele, Book Coordinator, [email protected], 314-402-7800 Miriam Chapman, Mentoring Coordinator, [email protected], 314-399-8389 Importance of music on page 2 Page 2 Music: It Does a Body Good! Music is not only enjoyable for young children (well, really “children” of any age), but it offers a variety of learning opportunities, as well. Several studies now show that when a young child is engaged with music from a young age, he/she is building connections in her brain that can lead to enhanced reading readiness and language development. A recent study of 165 toddlers conducted by the University of Buffalo demonstrated that early and frequent exposure to music improved vocabulary and language processing. According to the Children’s Music Workshop, “the effect of music education on language development can be seen in the brain. Recent studies have clearly indicated that musical training physically develops the part of the left side of the brain known to be involved with processing language, and can actually wire the brain’s circuits in specific ways. Linking familiar songs to new information can also help imprint information on young minds,” the group claims. In addition, the relationship that exists between music and language development is advantageous from a social-emotional standpoint, as well. “The development of language over time tends to enhance parts of the brain that help process music,” says Dr. Kyle Pruett, clinical professor of child psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine and a practicing musician. “Language competence is at the root of social competence. Musical experience strengthens the capacity to be verbally competent.” While the act of just listening to music is beneficial, the best types of experience for young children are those where they can actively participate in the music, by marching or clapping along with the beat. When children listen to, repeat, and create rhymes, they learn to match the sounds of language. And what could better inspire rhyming than playful children’s songs? As you listen together, repeat the rhyming words and encourage your child to do the same. Introduce and talk about new words like rhythm and note. Listen for new words in song lyrics and talk about what they mean. You can also encourage the children to enjoy music and build their vocabulary by teaching them the words to your favorite songs or making up songs together. So, for all the Ready Readers volunteers taking in this very important information, here’s my message to you: SING! It doesn’t matter if you can’t carry a tune in a bucket (as my husband would say), or if you’re tone deaf, or whatever the excuse. MUSIC = LANGUAGE Adorable books based on songs: Volunteer spotlight on the next page Page 3 Volunteer Spotlight HOPE HOUSE HOLIDAY DRIVE Hope Transitional House Child Development Center Holiday Gift Bag Drive Kingdom House recognized their Star Supporters at their annual “Thank You” Event this fall. Among the honorees, was Our very own Jan McCurley and her Husband Roger! Congrats on being the Recipient of the 2014 Volunteer Impact Award! Thank you for all you do for the St. Louis Community and for Ready Readers! A huge thanks goes out to reader Sheila Oliveri for creating and donating these BEAUTIFUL pins that our volunteers have purchased as gifts for their classroom teachers. All proceeds go directly to our program! We have four left… call the RR office to make sure you get one! (314) 564-8070 Volunteer Reader Janis Wiley is at it again! As Campus College Chair of the College of Education for University of Phoenix, she coordinates a drive intended to collect items for the gift bags she distributes to the center where she reads. 40 gift bags will be prepared that include books, crayons, Chapstick, and healthy snacks. Janice, this is truly amazing and we can never thank you enough for your involvement with Hope House and of course, Ready Readers! A big “shout out” to volunteers Linda Jackson, Sara Thomas, and Cheryl Whatley for helping out with fall book distribution! You ladies were FANTASTIC! Author Study Margaret Wise Brown 1910-1952 ● wrote hundreds of books during her life, but she is best known for Goodnight Moon, Big Red Barn, and Runaway Bunny ● she loved animals and featured them in many stories ● she liked to place a hard word in a story, to make children think Community outreach on page 4 Page 4 Community Involvement Eagle Scouts Build Bookshelves When the first scout working on his Eagle badge got in touch with me, looking for a project, I had to really dig around in my brain a little. Then, I remembered that frequently their projects involve building things. A light bulb went off… why not have them build bookshelves! First, we met with five prospective Eagle Scouts over the course of the last year; providing them will very little direction, as designing is a big part of the project. Next, a small handful of our neediest classrooms were identified that could use a new bookshelf. Four of our scouts are hard at work, but I’m thrilled to announce that one - Josh Sumner - has completed his project! He not only provided Agape with THREE beautiful shelves, but stocked them with books as well. The added bonus… Josh is a volunteer reader at Agape, through our partnership with Westminster Christian Academy! Josh, we can never thank you enough! Incredible Bar Mitzvah Project Congratulations to Jack Kahn on his recent Bar Mitzvah! As his project, Jack collected HUNDREDS of brand new books, and not only donated them in person to one of our centers, Lot-a-Luv, but also had a spot as a guest storyteller while he was there. Such a sweet kid and a truly generous project. Thanks so much, Jack! Fiery Phoenixes Lego Robotics Team In October, five young men - part of the Lego Robotics Club at Ladue Middle School - visited with me at our office, to learn more about literacy and the challenges that underserved families face. They want to design a literacy support tool as part of a local competition. We are super fired up to be part of this amazing project! These brilliant young men and their leader are designing an insert, that could be affixed to a board book, that will allow the story to be read to the child by the push of a button. It’s certainly not intended to replace the parent or caregiver, but to support those efforts. In November, the highest score for their division resulted in the winning of the Champions Award! Now, they move on to the next round at the state level… super competitive. We’ll keep you posted on their progress! News you can use on page 5 Page 5 News You Can Use! Whole Foods Community Support Day December 18, 2014 1601 S. Brentwood Blvd. 63144 1120 Town and Country Crossing Dr. 63017 Winter gift books will be in our warehouse late January. Please wait for an email from Nora; she’ll let you know the specific days/times when they can be picked up. Thank you! 5% of all proceeds will go directly to Ready Readers! Thank you for your patronage! The Volunteer Resources section of our website is just a click away - found in upper right-hand corner of our homepage. www.readyreaders.org Enjoy! For a LIMITED TIME ONLY, the programs that participate in Ready Readers can attend a FREE field trip at the Magic House! Ask your teacher if she’s made reservations yet! We are interested in the topics that you’d like to discuss in our new, Ready Readers University “coffee talks” that will begin in January! If you didn’t get a chance to respond to the survey last month, please do so: What would you like to see added to our website and/or Readers’ Corner newsletter? Ideas for a blog topic? Email or call Julia and let her know! (314) 564-8070 • [email protected] Click the link below to submit your topics of interest! https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5J6WZR8 Follow Us On Our Website, Facebook, and Twitter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Be sure to visit Ready Readers' website at www.readyreaders.org. You can find additional information about Ready Readers, what we do, ideas for volunteer readers, and more. You can also join Lisa Greening, Executive Director, on our website blog to share and learn about great read-aloud ideas. Two more ways to stay connected with Ready Readers - follow us on our Facebook Fan Page and on Twitter, to get the latest information about programs and events. Ready Readers 1974 Innerbelt Business Center Drive St. Louis, Missouri 63114 (314) 564-8070 [email protected] www.readyreaders.org