Early Language & Literacy Coalition Update |
|
Summer Learning Opportunities |
|
Access to and participation in summer programs can combat summer learning loss and provide enriching opportunities, which helps children succeed and thrive in and out of the classroom. Planning for children’s out of school care now is more important than ever.
Our community summer learning partners focus on the social-emotional needs of the whole child as well as learning recovery each year. Collaboration amongst the school districts and community organizations will continue to ensure our youth have quality experiences and support during the summer months. This alignment sets the community up for more equitable opportunities. Our efforts to change the long-term effects of summer learning loss, in addition to the pandemic, begins now.
This year, there are several opportunities for students to engage in fun experiences, build relationships with peers and caring adults, and receive literacy support! Schools and community organizations will offer a variety of summer camps and programs across our community. Parents and caregivers can find more information about summer programs by visiting 211 and entering keywords “Day Camps”.
|
|
|
|
Basics Partner Highlight: Dr. Franciska Kocsner at The Brain Development Center
In honor of April being Autism Awareness Month, we would like to highlight one of our newest Basics Champions, Dr. Franciska Kocsner at The Brain Center. Dr. Kocsner has been in private practice for 12 years serving the Southwest region of Georgia by diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disorders. The Brain Center provides childhood psychological evaluations, individual and family therapy, and social skills groups for children diagnosed with ASD.
Dr. Kocsner became a Basics Champion in late 2020 and has been passionate about sharing The Basics with the families she sees. "As advocates for The Basics, my staff and I have been exposing our clientele to the 5 points for success by informed interaction and by placing different literary and digital resources in high traffic areas of the office. Early cognitive stimulation, emotional connections, and exposure to language are especially important for children who are delayed in reaching their developmental milestones. Specific information provided by The Basics helps us to relay the importance of such activities to the parents."
If you believe a child is showing early signs of ASD, such as speech or language delays or behavioral differences, please address your concerns with the child's pediatrician. Learn more on their website.
|
|
|
|
Summer Learning Experience
Muscogee County School District (MCSD) have reimagined summer learning and announced a new experience for all students. This experience is designed to engage students in a variety of literacy, mathematics, and enrichment learning activities through an interactive summer camp approach. The District and schools will work with local community partners to provide enrichment activities that support student interests in the areas of science, fine arts, and sports.
Registration for the MCSD Summer Learning Experience 2021 will close Friday, May 7th.
|
|
|
|
Understanding the Impact of Trauma on Children
This course will have participants explore actions they can take to promote resilience to support the physical and psychological safety of children and families who have experienced child trauma and child traumatic stress. Participants will be provided with strategies for addressing secondary traumatic stress that can impact helping professionals.
|
|
|
|
Maltreatment & Brain Development
Not only can adverse experiences affect the developing brain negatively, but positive ones can affect the brain favorably and can even mitigate or reverse damage done by negative ones!
Learn more by checking out this factsheet. It also includes definitions of common terms related to the developing brain. |
|
|
|
Reducing Challenging Behavior: Administrators as Agents of Change
Implementing change can be a difficult task to execute successfully. This free webinar examines solutions and systemic changes to help all children succeed in your program. Join author and consultant Barbara Kaiser, to:
~explore ways to recognize the need for change,
~develop an understanding of why implementing change is hard,
~learn ways to develop a culture of collaboration and respond to resistance, and
~identify the steps required to implement change.
Today, Wednesday, April 21st 2:00PM – 3:30PM ET
|
|
|
|
Challenges and Opportunities for Student Achievement
The data tracking learning loss among the nation’s school aged children confirms that literacy support must continue through the summer. Join this discussion to hear promising interventions for successful teaching and learning in the fall. Hear from leading experts on what is known about the K-3 cohorts from Fall 2019 with what the data predicts for those same grades for Fall 2021.
|
|
|
|
We Want to Hear From You
Share your joys and challenges with us as you care for yourself, the people around you, and the families you serve. Let us know what resources you find helpful. We’re here to listen, support, and strengthen our community. Email our team today.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
