Child Sized Stories

READING, LANGUAGE ARTS
PROBLEM
Our school library is not able to fund the type of books necessary to encourage reading among my students.
RESPONSE
Make Your Class A Star
Objective:
· Partner with public library
· Foster parent-child use of the public library
· Motivate readers through a reward.

PROBLEM
Community children are not reading
RESPONSE
The Reading Club (I.E, “The Chapters Café”, “Curious George Bunch”, “Eager Readers”, etc.)


INFORMATION SKILLS
Our school library is outdated and unable to meet the demands of our older students.
RESPONSE
“Roaming Research” in which school/class and local library collaborate on the research instruction process with a local reference librarian or children’s or young adult librarian.

THE ARTS
PROBLEM
I’d like to encourage the art among my students, but we don’t have any real enthusiasm for it at my school.
RESPONSE
Contact the local library about displaying Student art projects to provide a means of promoting student artists.
Team with the local library for an afterschool or Saturday artists-in-residence type program combining funds and library space.
Unite to promote drama, storytelling, writing, and music.

SOCIAL STUDIES
PROBLEM
My school lacks a real connection to its community. I’d like to have them come to appreciate the heritage that exists.
RESPONSE
Local History Alive!; An Oral History Project, planned in cooperation with the local library.
This provides older students with an opportunity to learn valuable communication skills (interviewing), writing skills, gain new awareness of local and oral history.
The public library could donate space for interviews, promote it, help with recording, and perhaps add it to their permanent local history collection.
Also, consider a panel discussion at the public library to address local politics and government.

EMERGENT LITERACY
Problem:
Too many young children are entering Kindergarten without necessary skills and preparation to succeed in school.
Response:
FAMILY FRIENDLY LIBRARIES
COME READ WITH ME
Success by 6

PARENT EMPOWERMENT
The Metropolitan Library System’s adoption of the philosophy of a family friendly and parent empowering public library is one example of a means by which the library partners with area community agencies to provide valid information referrals for parents, offers developmentally appropriate programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary age children.
Working in conjunction with other community agencies – such as the “Success By Six” program of United Way, the Child Advocacy Institute, Reach Out and Read, and many others – the library system has made helping children succeed a priority. Recognizing that all current research indicates that the years leading up to formal schooling are crucial for success while in school, the library is targeting county children ages birth to three years of age. The goal: educate parents about the vital role they play as a child’s first teacher, encourage and model reading with children, help place books into the hands of both parents and children.






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