Wake County SmartStart Programming

Literacy Invites and Nurtures Kids Success (L.I.N.K.S.)

During the 2008-09 fiscal year, Motheread, Inc. will provide emergent literacy training and mentoring to 84 teachers identified as needing assistance in this area. Each educator will participate in the Literacy Invites and Nurtures Kids Success (L.I.N.K.S.) initiative, which will include a Story Exploring® Training as well as three-to-six individual, follow-up, on-site mentoring visits. As part of the project, participants will receive a two-volume Story Exploring Curriculum, take home materials (Story Extenders®) for parents, a set of curriculum-linked, developmentally appropriate, early childhood books; and a set of supplemental books and/or other literacy materials to enhance literacy practice and classroom environment. In addition, each teacher will receive assistance in the development of an emergent literacy plan for the improvement of both individual practice and classroom environment.

Through Wake County SmartStart, Motheread, Inc. will change emergent literacy practices in childcare classrooms, thereby improving the quality of childcare centers and the school readiness of those children whose teachers participate in the project.

Motheread/Fatheread Classes

During the 2008-09 fiscal year, Motheread, Inc. will provide Motheread/Fatheread classes totaling at least 20 hours of instruction, to 100 parents. The classes will use the Motheread curriculum and be delivered at partnering agencies. Parents attending these classes will learn specific strategies and techniques to build their own literacy skills and those of their children. They will also learn the importance of reading aloud as well as specific skills and techniques to use in the home learning environment. Additionally, parents will show an increase in the number of times they read to their children each week. Parents will also learn how to encourage a positive attitude and motivation in their children toward reading.