The Hill District Early Literacy Initiative (HDELI), supported by the Macedonia Family and Community Enrichment Center (FACE), is conducting a survey on parent engagement in child literacy.
About the Survey
Entitled, “Hill District Early Literacy Initiative Survey,” the poll aims to discover strategies caregivers use to engage their children in reading comprehension, and establish what resources and supports parents need to assist in that engagement.
Just seven questions, the survey is brief and takes only five minutes to complete. HDELI encourages parents and caregivers of young children in the Hill District to complete it.
Take the Survey
Individuals interested in taking the survey can do so by either:
Learn More
Survey results are confidential. Please contact Macedonia FACE to learn more.
Source
Information for this post was taken directly from the Hill District Early Literacy Initiative Survey and Macedonia FACE website. Some text may have been added, paraphrased, or adapted for readability and comprehension.
Related Content & Resources
March is National Reading Month. The month kicks off with National Read Across America Day on March 2, where children, teachers, parents/caregivers, and community members around the nation come together to read books and celebrate the joy of reading.
Reading Month Activity Ideas
About National Reading Month
National Reading Month is celebrated not just to promote the love for reading but also to develop communication and learning.
The National Education Association (NEA) has been leading the Read Across America initiative since 1998. Read Across America Day calls upon everyone to read and engage with children to make reading a more fun and interactive experience. Libraries, schools, book clubs, and communities organize events to celebrate and promote reading.
If you are a parent or caregiver who understands the importance of finding picture books that feature Black and Indigenous People and People of Color (BIPOC) – offering children, as Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop phrased it, “mirrors and windows” to the world – it can still be challenging to know how to choose a good book from among what’s increasingly available on the “diverse books” market.
Join EmbraceRace and the founders of Diverse BookFinder on April 28 for their webinar “Choosing ‘Good’ Picture Books Featuring Black and Indigenous People and People of Color” to get their practical advice about how you can move beyond simply avoiding stereotypical portrayals to find great picture books your child is likely to enjoy. Time for questions and book recommendations will be provided.
Registration
To register, visit the event webpage.
*Information provided by EmbraceRace
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) recently launched an initiative aimed at promoting literacy even when school isn’t in session. Each week, PDE unveils a new video featuring a prominent Pennsylvanian reading a children’s book to an at-home audience.
Upcoming Readings
The initiative kicked off with Secretary Pedro Rivera reading the book, Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes, one of his personal favorite books to read to young audiences. In upcoming weeks, the initiative will feature several officials from the Wolf Administration reading books related to the work they lead, including:
Where to Watch
The videos are accessible on PDE’s Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube pages.
Learn More
To learn more, read the full press release or visit the PDE website.
*Information provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
Families and caregivers with young children are invited to join Reading is Fundamental (RIF) Pittsburgh at the Homewood-Brushton Family Support Center for their Storymobile visits!
About the Storymobile
Storymobiles are libraries-on-wheels; taking stories, activities, books, and literacy resources to early childcare centers, pre-k and kindergarten classrooms, afterschool programs, public housing communities, and community events across Pittsburgh.
Focused on kindergarten readiness, Storymobile programming is designed to introduce young students to the joy of reading; expose them to challenging subject matter, including math and science themes, in a way that they embrace and enjoy; and reinforce skills recommended by state and federal curricula.
All children that participate with Storymobile will be signed up for the Books for Keeps program, enabling them to select a book to take home and keep four times throughout the year.
Learn More
To learn more, contact RIF Pittsburgh at 412.321.8022 or email info@rifpittsburgh.org.
Share this flyer with your network.
*Information provided by Reading is Fundamental Pittsburgh
Join Buzzword Pittsburgh on Wednesday, June 19 for Talk & Play in Hazelwood! This event is free for learners ages five and under, with their caregivers, and will include activities that enhance vocabulary and literacy skills. Dinner will be provided.
More Information
For more information, contact Jan Jones at jan@tryingtogether.org.
Share this flyer with your network.
On April 27, 2019, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto announced that a new program will offer free monthly books to Pittsburgh children from birth to age five. The program is currently accepting applications from parents and guardians.
About the Program
The free book program – in conjunction with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the Benter Foundation, and the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania – will mail all eligible children an age-appropriate book every month up until their fifth birthday. Participating children will receive their first book through the U.S. Postal Services six to eight weeks after the registration form has been received.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the program, preschoolers must:
-
- be a resident of the City of Pittsburgh,
- have a parent or guardian fill out an official registration form, and
- notify the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania of any address changes.
Registration
To sign up for this program, register your children online via the Imagination Library website!
Interested in mailing in or submitting your registration in person? See their webpage for more details.
More Information
For any questions, please contact Tiffini Simoneaux via email (tiffini.simoneaux@pittsburghpa.gov) or phone (412.255.2505).
The Raising Readers Together Club runs weekly and explores the importance of acceptance, equality, and tolerance through reading. Thursday sessions are suitable for children ages five and younger.
For children age six and older, see our Wednesday sessions at Willie Tee’s Barbershop.
Winter 2019 Books:
- Word Play by Adam Lehrhaupt | February 7
- My Heart Fills With Happiness by Monique Gray Smith | February 14
- Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too by Anna Dewdney | February 21
- Unplugged by Steven Antony | February 28
- All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold | March 7
- Malala: My Story of Standing Up for Girls’ Rights by Malala Yousafzai | March 14
- The Library Book by Tom Chapin and Michael Mark | March 21
- Billy Bloo is Stuck in Goo by Jennifer Hamburg | March 28
Raising Readers provides free:
- books
- discussion
- food
- songs
- storytelling
- resources
Questions
For questions or more information, contact Cynthia Battle at 412.421.3889 or cynthia@tryingtogether.org.
Share this flyer with your network.
