Early Learning Forum and Best Practices Awards
Highlight the Best of the Best
by Michelle McIntyre, Roaring Spring Community Library
The seventh annual Best Practices Awards were announced during the Early Learning Forum on April 14 at the Harrisburg Hilton. 2010 Best Practices Guide (PDF)
Sixty-eight entries were submitted in seven categories for judging. Four judges – Michelle Figlar, Executive Director, Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC); Bianca Roberts, former Youth Services District Consultant, Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library; Senator John Eichelberger, whose district is Bedford, Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon and Mifflin (part) counties; and Lindsay Barrett George, children’s author and illustrator – selected the winners from all qualified entries. The following are the winners, listed by category:
Programs for Children from Birth to Three Years of Age
Springfield Township Library, Delaware County
Pre-Walker Circle Time
This program takes a different approach to story time by limiting participation to babies who are not yet walking. It provides infants and caregivers a special time together without the hustle and bustle of older babies who need more attention.
Dauphin County Library System, Dauphin County
Let’s Learn and Play
Featuring a series of learning stations, this approach encourages toddlers to choose where they want to spend their time. Babies and grown-ups play, read books, crawl through a tunnel, roll balls and have fun with a parachute.
Henrietta Hankin Branch of the Chester County Library, Chester County
Baby Time
This 30-minute program was designed to show caregivers how to stimulate language and motor skills, giving newborns a strong start in becoming lifelong readers.
Programs for Children Between Four and Six Years of Age
Shaler North Hills Library, Allegheny County
Discovery Kids
This program presents concepts and activities for preschoolers from one of the natural sciences including physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology and geology, using the hands-on materials from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. (Also the David J. Roberts EXCEL winner)
Public Library for Union County, Union County
Down on the Farm
This event was designed to show preschoolers where their food comes from. They read books and introduced activities that showed the shapes of different vegetables and how they grow. The children also milked a mechanical cow – with real milk!
Green Ridge Library (a branch of the Scranton Public Library), Lackawanna County
Play and Learn Workshops
These workshops are small-group sessions designed to pair early literacy programming with unstructured play time for children and their parents. Parents appreciate the chance to get to know each other as they play with their children in an enriched environment.
Programs Serving At-Risk Children and Families
Lower Macungie Library, Lehigh County
Bringing Boys to Books
Based on research and materials from guysread.com, this story time is for dads and preschool boys on Saturday mornings. On Daddy Catcher Days, men at the library with their children receive gift certificates or fine-forgiveness coupons.
Reading Public Library, Berks County
Healthy Kids Fair
Library patrons had many questions about the Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In response, librarians designed a fair that focused on health issues common to young children.
James V. Brown Library, Lycoming County
Library-Literacy Link
The library system’s Learning Center moved to the same building as the library. While the Learning Center works with adults in GED and ESL programs, the library has adjusted its programming and scheduling to encourage parents to participate in library activities with their children.
Family Programming Services
Kittanning Public Library, Armstrong County
Mother Goose Land
At this event, the Mother Goose characters came to life when children aged seven and under arrived at the library to trick-or-treat with their families. Each station represented a different nursery rhyme with scenery, action, props and books.
Joseph T. Simpson Public Library, Cumberland County
Family Fall Festival
This hour-long festival features nearly every autumn activity imaginable, including square dancing, sack races, pumpkin painting and scavenger hunts. Over the years, the number of participants has grown from 20 to 120, and families look forward to it every year.
Montgomery County – Norristown Public Library, Montgomery County
Science Explorers
Science Explorers is a four-week series of workshop-style programs for children 3- to 5-years-old, introducing a different science topic every week with play time, drama, music and art.
Programs That Showcase Community Collaborations
Monessen Public Library and District Center, Westmoreland County
Cinco de Mayo Celebration
This event offered young patrons a tour of the library, which included finding a piñata and treasure, being treated to a rendition of “Jorge el Curioso” (Curious George), the Mexican Hat Dance, and face-painting courtesy of students from a local art school.
Union County Library System, Union County
National Night Out
The library participated in National Night Out by distributing information about the library, having scheduled reading activities and giving away copies of If You Were a Penguin at their booth.
Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
Books Aloud!
Partnering with the Philadelphia Housing Authority, library staff presented read-aloud workshops at six public housing sites. The key to success of the program was the assistance of a resident at each site who was familiar with the families and the culture of the population.
Early Learning and Parenting Programs for Adults
Joseph T. Simpson Public Library, Cumberland County
Kindergarten Readiness Class
This class offers a simulated, modified kindergarten class for parents and their preschool children. Parents remain with the children, participate in the activities and practice with the children at home.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Reading Readiness Resources
The library designed and printed several resources for parents and caregivers: a four-color, 60-inch growth chart, Mother Goose Rhyme Packets, and a series of cards suggesting activities that promote PA Early Learning Standards.
Programs for One Book, Every Young Child - 2009
Centre County Library and Historical Museum, Centre County
Penguin March
Librarians set up a lending library at the week-long Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair. Last year, in addition to offering regular story time, the staff led a Penguin March through the fair. The children made and wore costumes to represent the different kinds of penguins from the book If You Were a Penguin.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – East Liberty, Allegheny County
Penguin Fest!
This two-hour event at the library on a Saturday morning, offered a series of learning stations where young children and their parents participated in memory games, crafts and a penguin egg relay. Special guests included Trai Essex and Darnell Stapleton of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Elvis the penguin from the National Aviary.
James V. Brown Library, Lycoming County
Community Engagement Group Partnerships
With funding from an Early Childhood Community Engagement Transition Activities Grant, the library deployed a contingent of guest readers – armed with stacks of free copies of If You Were a Penguin – to read in childcare centers, libraries, preschools, kindergartens, private homes and community centers throughout the county.
David J. Roberts EXCEL Library Service Award
Shaler North Hills Library, Allegheny County
Discovery Kids
This program presents concepts and activities for preschoolers from one of the natural sciences including physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology and geology, using the hands-on materials from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
All award winners received a trophy and had their pictures taken with Jane and Will Hillenbrand, author and illustrator of What a Treasure!, this year’s One Book, Every Young Child selection. The Best Practices 2010 booklet with the winners listed was distributed at the Early Learning Forum. A limited number of copies are available through PaLA’s headquarters and will be available to download at www.palibraries.org.
|
