Early Language & Literacy Coalition Update
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A Reflection on Collaborative Highlights
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March marks one year of the Coronavirus pandemic and its impact. Our community has supported one another in ways unlike before, during this unprecedented time. Increasing access to resources was critically important, especially during the onset of the pandemic. Some families found themselves in need for the first time, other families’ needs increased. Agency services changed or adapted at a rapid pace to meet these needs. Partner agencies collaborated to meet the basic needs of Chattahoochee Valley residents through student meals, virtual learning spaces and increased awareness of community resources. A few of these collaborations are highlighted below.
- Youth agencies adapted to provide childcare for healthcare employees opened virtual learning centers, increased access to food, and provided other supports to meet emerging needs of children and families.
- Working with Feeding the Valley, 42,500 meals were provided to children during the gaps in services between the end of school and beginning of summer feeding programs. Youth agencies, local churches, and community partners assisted with transportation and meal delivery.
- 211 is always an important community resource and during the pandemic being able to access the latest updates on closings and resources in one place was essential. Nearly 1,300 of the 8,800 callers stated their needs were directly related to COVID 19 - that’s 15% of all calls. Over 8,500 referrals for housing related services shows how many of our neighbors are living on the brink of becoming homeless every day.
As we begin to envision life beyond the pandemic, we are grateful for partners committed to serve our community and collaborate when needed– especially during times of crisis and change. We hope you will stay connected to each other, continue to collaborate, and remember the importance of caring for yourself and those around you. Together, we are creating a community where all children thrive. Thank you for all your work.
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Read & Discuss Stories: Literacy in Action
March is National Literacy Month, and we are celebrating by sharing tips and resources for helping your baby or toddler develop literacy skills early on! Reading aloud to your child builds their language and critical thinking skills and unleashes their creativity. Here are some tips for making Read & Discuss Stories a part of your daily life:
- Commit to reading every day with your child. Even just 10 minutes of reading can have positive benefits.
- Before reading, set the space and intention. Cuddle up with a favorite blanket or choose a cozy spot. If your child is older, allow them to pick the book to read. Look at the title and cover illustrations and show your excitement for the book you are about to read!
- While reading, get fun and creative! Use a different voice for each character. Add sound effects and gestures to get your child involved in the story.
- Help them follow along with the story. Pause occasionally and ask questions about the story like, "What do you think happens next?" For babies, you don't even need to read the words on the page--sitting, holding the book, and pointing at pictures and talking about what you see is enough.
By practicing these tips every day, your child will develop a love for reading. Literacy is a habit that you can develop with your child from the moment they are born. We hope you find these tips helpful as you practice Read & Discuss Stories every day!
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Read Across America Update
Research shows that supporting the development of early literacy skills, enables a child to be successful in school and leads to better outcomes in life. Children who are read to often possess improved language and listening skills. Community partners celebrated early literacy earlier this month as part of Read Across America Day celebration.
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United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley reached over 13,000 students in 9 schools in the region to share stories in celebration of Read Across America Day. Kevin Cobb’s recorded reading has 140 views on YouTube. You can check out photos of the various volunteers reaching students virtually or in-person on Facebook.
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Chattahoochee Valley Libraries distributed 306 make and take craft bags with information from partnering agencies throughout the region as well. The recorded reading of King Looie Katz produced 185 social media views. View the video here.
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Literacy Alliance kicked off this year’s Let’s Read Muscogee events with help from local Rotary clubs and Georgia Strong Families. Together, this effort served over 400 youth (ages 6 weeks to 5 years old) in 12 different locations in Columbus on Read Across America Day! This number is expected to exceed 700, after the Book Parade on March 27th.
Through these efforts, and many others across our community, partners are helping to celebrate the love of reading and promote early literacy.
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Student Meals Available During Spring Break
Partners are collaborating to ensure students have access to food over MCSD Spring Break. Feeding the Valley will provide kid-friendly meals for students. Meals will be available for pick on Monday, March 29th and Thursday April 1st at the following Columbus Parks and Recreation sites:
- 29th Street Recreation Center: 501 29th Street, Columbus, GA 31904
- Boxwood Recreation Center: 1100 Enoch Drive, Columbus, GA 31906
- Carver Park Recreation Center: 6665 Hunter Road, Columbus, GA 31907
- Michael Fluellen Recreation Center: 2824 8th Street, Columbus, GA 31906
- Frank Chester Recreation Center: 1441 Benning Drive, Columbus, GA 31903
- Shirley B. Winston Recreation Center: 5025 Steam Mill Road, Columbus, GA 31907
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Resources to Support the Science of Reading
Join Cox Campus to tap into a community with a shared interest of child development. The website offers science-backed tools, tips, activities, and templates, that you can download and use with children immediately. The all-new Resource Overview page is designed to help you find the most impactful resource bundles for infants to 3rd grade. Visit their YouTube page to view this year's 23rd Annual Montag Lecture, streamed live on March 11th. Emily Hanford, Education Correspondent, discusses the urgency of the science of reading in this moment so that every child has the opportunity to learn.
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Community Action Network
Please join Georgia Strong Families’ Community Action Network (CAN) monthly meetings. The meetings are designed to keep community agencies aware or resources for local families and their children birth to five. The next presentation is about a new initiative that will support expectant mothers on the road to having healthy babies. You will also hear updates on the Fatherhood Program, and upcoming events that your organization may participate in.
Meeting ID: 938 0880 8681
CAN members will also be sharing their favorite books in the Virtual Storytime throughout this month. See the flyer for the meeting link and share this opportunity with your network as this event is free and open to the public! If you have any questions, please contact Dorcas Woody at 706-321-6375 or [email protected].
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Get Connected. Get Help.
211 adds new resources to the comprehensive information and referral database all the time! Updates to existing resources are made frequently so check back often to learn more about the programs and services that can help you, your family, friends, and neighbors.
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Summer Learning Resources
Click here to find a collection of shared resources to support summer learning opportunities. In a recent Summer Bootcamp newsletter, the National Summer Learning Association shared a resource guide to intentionally connect, plan and ensure that Summer 2021 combats COVID-19 learning loss and meets the needs of all of America’s children. Visit their website to learn more about their work and prepare for National Summer Learning Week (July 12th-16th).
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Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies
Do you have clients who speak of feeling overwhelmed, distracted, isolated or struggling with other forms of depression? The Georgia Chapter of Perinatal Support International are hosting support groups, led by trained mothers. These groups are not only for first-time mothers, but they are for any Georgia mom that is currently pregnant or recently had a baby. Please share this free online resource focused on maternal mental health peer support groups for mothers.
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Leveraging Community Resources: Mitigating the COVID Impact on Business and Nonprofits
Join us on March 24th at 11 am to discover how business and existing community resources can join forces to improve outcomes for workers and create economic value in the process. Local experts will discuss potential solutions to the issues of business closures, funding constraints, restrictions on accepting new business, and the environmental challenges that inhibit building a strong and reliable workforce.
Visit the website to view short biographies for the featured panelists; Jerald Mitchell, Ben Blair, Eric Cochling, Betsy Covington, and Ben Moser.
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EdTech and Accelerated Learning: The Future is Now
On behalf of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, please join us on Tuesday, March 23rd from 3–4:30 pm, as Shawn Joseph, Ed.D., of Howard University moderates this learning conversation with colleagues on the “must haves” for successful integration of technology for student learning.
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We Want to Hear From You
Let us know what resources you find helpful and what you need more of. We’re here to listen, support, and strengthen our community! Email our team today.
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Common Agenda
The Early Language and Literacy Coalition works to create a community where all children thrive. Our collective impact approach supports, promotes, and complements community wide initiatives of Get Georgia Reading, The Basics Chattahoochee Valley, and Columbus 2025. We engage with a cross-sector of community partners to ensure all children become proficient readers by the end of third grade, paving the way to improved outcomes throughout school and life.
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Early Language and Literacy Coalition Background
Early Language and Literacy partners in the Chattahoochee Valley recognize that literacy is much more than an education issue. Our efforts to change long-term outcomes must begin early—long before children enter kindergarten. We are focused on the root causes of why a child might not be reading. Root causes include early brain development and language-rich interactions with infants and toddlers, school attendance, summer learning loss, and the influence of physical and mental health on all aspects of learning and development. Far too many children in our community lack access to quality health care, housing, nutrition, and
supportive learning environments. And far too many children experience the trauma of stress and violence in their homes and neighborhoods, inhibiting their ability to learn and grow. Children cannot learn when they are hungry, sick, or scared.
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