Next Thursday, May 7th, from 12:00-1:00 pm MDT, we’ll be joined by Shelby Jones, who is the Vroom Program Director in Colorado for a discussion on Libraries and Vroom – A Natural Partnership. Vroom is making a concerted effort to establish greater partnerships with libraries this year, so Shelby will be sharing information about what […]
Category: Lifelong Literacy
Tips and resources to help parents, teachers, and librarians promote reading, reading skills, and learning at every stage of life.
Upcoming GRT Quick Bites – Activating the Hidden Senses at Storytime with Melody Garcia
Young children of all abilities learn best when their senses are fully activated, but did you know we use SEVEN senses to understand ourselves and our environment? Two “hidden senses,” the proprioceptive and vestibular senses, are essential for balance and body awareness and keep us alert and attentive. Learn how to plan storytimes that provide […]
Upcoming GRT Quick Bites – Full-Spectrum Literacy with Kate Brunner
Libraries have a long history of supporting children’s print literacy development. Now, as we move further into the 21st century, the concept of literacy and the learning demands on young children seem to be expanding. Technology, emotional intelligence, communication, executive function, citizenship, cultural competence, and more are becoming significant parts of a young child’s early […]
Growing Readers Together: Quick Bites Webinar Series Returns in April
Growing Readers Together returns with a fresh series of GRT Quick Bites for 2020! These 20 minute webinars are intended to refresh and inspire your children and family services though micro learning opportunities on programming, policies, and best practices for early learning at the library. Mark your calendar and make the most of your lunch […]
State Library Receives an additional $450,000 over 3 Years for Early Literacy in Libraries
In 2019, the Colorado State Library received a $150,000 Preschool Development Grant from the Colorado Department of Human Services to increase public library outreach to informal caregivers via 3 part-time regional early literacy librarians, professional development, and local library events and materials for family, friend, and neighbor caregivers (FFN). This funding has now been extended, […]
2019 Early Literacy Tour Recap
This post was written by Sharon Morris, Director of Library Development for the Colorado State Library. Last week, Colorado Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera visited three libraries and three schools to promote early literacy. I was along with her, which was particularly fun for me because it taps into my years as a children’s librarian and outreach […]
Colorado Literacy Week is in Full Swing!
This week, Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera is leading a tour across the state, visiting small and large communities alike, to build excitement for reading. Colorado Literacy Week draws public attention to the critical importance of early learning and to launch numerous efforts that will put Colorado’s children on a path to reading success. Colorado Literacy […]
One Book Colorado Voting is Now Open!
Each year, One Book Colorado gives away copies of the same book to every 4-year-old in the state, in English and Spanish, through public and military libraries and Denver Preschool Programs. In 2020, the giveaway will take place between April 13 – 16, and, starting today, you can cast your vote for your favorite of […]
RESCHEDULED GRT@Your Library: Innovate & Inspire with Gail & Kate
Join Kate & Gail on November 19 from 12:00-1:00 pm MT to learn about the GRT Outreach Success Cycle. We’ll craft innovative ways to experiment and educate in our libraries and beyond, inspire ourselves and each other, and celebrate our successes together, along with looking forward to how we can once again look & listen as […]
Upcoming GRT@Your Library Webinar: Dream & Discover with Melody & Gail
Join Melody & Gail on October 29 from 12:00-1:00 PM to learn about the GRT Outreach Success Cycle. We’ll dream about new possibilities for early learning in libraries, discover how to set meaningful goals, and become powerful advocates for young families and FFN caregivers in our area. This webinar is part of a four-part GRT@Your Library, […]
Upcoming GRT@Your Library Webinar: Explore & Examine with Kate & Melody
Join Kate & Melody on October 22 from 12:00-1:00 PM to learn about the GRT Outreach Success Cycle. We’ll explore our libraries’ existing assets, examine how to build relationships with families, caregivers, and early childhood experts in our communities, and expand our expertise as we begin creating a network of support for engaging FFN caregivers […]
Upcoming GRT@Your Library Webinar: Look & Listen with Gail & Kate
Join Gail & Kate on October 15, 2019 at 12:00 pm to learn about the GRT Outreach Success Cycle. We’ll investigate how to spark new community conversations about FFN care in our area, look beyond our library walls, and gain a clearer understanding of our communities’ early childhood landscapes as we begin to build or […]
Registration is Now Open for Fall Youth Services Workshops
Registration for four Fall Youth Services Workshops is now open! Please click on a link below to take you to the simple registration form for your selected workshop. All workshops will run from 10:00 am-4:00 pm, and the same content will be covered on each date – see below for a description of each session. […]
Four Part Outreach Webinar Series from Growing Readers Together Kicks Off in October
The Colorado State Library’s Growing Readers Together (GRT) Early Literacy Support Team is pleased to present GRT@Your Library, a four-part series of webinar learning opportunities for Colorado children’s librarians and staff interested in developing or expanding their relationships with informal family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) caregivers in their communities. Join Gail Yerbic, Kate Brunner, and […]
Upcoming GRT Quick Bites – Process Over Product: Explore the Magic of Open Ended Creativity
Offering young children the opportunity to explore with art materials without a product in mind unleashes their creativity and engages young minds. Process art can come in many forms, from truly messy, free form projects, to easy adaptions to a storytime craft. Join Melody Garcia from our new Growing Readers Together (GRT) Early Literacy Support […]
Colorado State Library announces 4th year of Growing Readers Together
The Colorado State Library is pleased to announce that the Buell Foundation board voted to fund Growing Readers Together (GRT) for another year. During 2019-20, which will be GRT’s 4th year of operation, fourteen library systems, representing 20 individual library locations, will participate in the grant program. The list of participating library systems during 2019-20 […]
Upcoming GRT Quick Bites – Brilliant Baby Brains: Early Learning & 0-5 Brain Development
Babies are born with over 100 billion neurons and trillions of synapses. From this abundance of raw material, an incredible sculpting process takes place in a young child’s brain over their first years of life. Join Kate Brunner from our new Growing Readers Together (GRT) Early Literacy Support Team for a “Quick Bites” look at […]
Upcoming GRT Quick Bites: Right Size Your Early Literacy Programming
So many great ideas and only so much time– how do you choose? Join Gail Yerbic from our new Growing Readers Together (GRT) Early Literacy Support Team for some “Quick Bites” tools to align your library’s goals and resources for maximum impact while keeping your schedule manageable. GRT Quick Bites are 20-minute micro-learning opportunities designed for busy […]
New Grant Opportunities
Grants Encourage Innovative Projects to Enhance the Lives of Young Children Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood: The Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood supports nonprofit organizations throughout the United States that offer programs that will significantly enhance the development, health, safety, education, or quality of life of children from infancy through seven years of age. The […]
Upcoming GRT Quick Bites Session – Caregiver Café: What Is It & How Do I Host One?
Wondering what a family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) caregiver is or how to connect with the FFNs in your community? Join Kate from our new Growing Readers Together (GRT) Early Literacy Support Team for a “Quick Bites” look at a simple, but impactful program you can use to jumpstart relationship building and outreach to this […]