Take Off! - a preschool learning outreach program

 

What activity helps level the academic playing field for all children?  Regardless of race, gender, class, working or single parents, or English as a second language?

Reading aloud to children!

If children are read to from the time they are born until they enter kindergarten they are set for success!

Research tells us that children immersed in "pleasurable language experiences" at a young age, enter school at a decided advantage.  (The following video on the importance of early childhood education is entitled "Change the first 5 years and you change everything" is produced by The Ounce of Prevention Fund.)

Our program supports caregivers and parents in helping young children develop the language and early literacy skills they need in order to successfully begin kindergarten.

  

Available Services:

Access to books

We have over 100 rotating book boxes available for sites to borrow for one month at a time.  These boxes include:

• Over 25 themes boxes
• Many special "for toddlers only" boxes filled with board or cloth books perfect or our littlest ones
• A selection of bilingual book boxes
• Our standard book boxes that include a variety of the best in children's literature

We also have a professional collection of books concerning all aspects of early literacy, including new craft and play activities for you to try with your children. [click to view list]

 

Access to educational materials that make story time more fun

• Puppets  [click to view list]
• Felt or Velcro storytelling kits for storyboards  [click to view list]
• Games  [click to view list]
• Puzzles  [click to view list]

Access to support materials

• Early literacy brochures or videos
• Parent hand-outs
• Periodical newsletters

Free books

• Each child you serve receives a FREE children's book
• Upon return of our end of the year survey, your site receives a special book for FREE

 

We also provide:

• Story time programs
  Upon request we can arrange a special story time that includes songs, music, fingerplays and rhymes.
• Provider/Caregiver Trainings
  These programs assist you in implementing practices that encourage development of early literacy skills.  They are user friendly and actively engage participants.
• Parent Presentations
  These offerings help inform and support parents in their role as their child's first and most important teacher.  Today's kindergarten readiness skills are defined and explained so that parents feel better prepared for their child's entrance into school.

  

Current funders and contributors to the TAKE OFF! program include:

• Oregon State Library Ready to Read Program
• Umatilla County Commission on Children and Families
• Umatilla County Special Library District
• Wildhorse Foundation

 

To sign up for services or for more information contact:

Melissa Nitz
Take Off! Program Director

        or

Mary Nixon
UCSLD Librarian/Coordinator

                         (541) 276-6449
                         17 SW Frazer Ave, Suite 360
                         P.O. Box 1689
                         Pendleton, OR  97801
 

The best time to start reading to a child is the day it is born.  Growing up with books increases a child's vocabulary, builds his attention span, and improves his grammar.  But even beyond this, a child discovers a story can touch the heart. 
 

Last Modified: 10/12/12