The Reimagining School Readiness Toolkit is a suite of research-backed resources created for library staff to help families prepare children ages 0 to 8 for success in school and in life. Through an interactive presentation with hands-on activities, this training will introduce library staff to the research, practical implications, and resources offered in the toolkit, which is available in its entirety for free online. Participants will understand key findings from current cognitive and developmental psychology research, reflect on the implications of those findings for their daily work, and gain practical ready-to-implement ideas for activities, as well as resources for staff training and for parents/caregivers. You will benefit from this workshop if you work with children ages 0 to 8 and their families and would like to learn more about how to offer research-backed programming in your library!

Date Recorded: 9/16/22 and 9/17/2022

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenters: Beth Yates / ISL Children’s Consultant and Suzanne Walker / Indiana Young Reader’s Center Librarian and Director of the Indiana Center for the Book

Resources:

• Reimagining School Resources and printable materials mentioned in Part 2

Part 1 = 2 hours / 2 LEUs

Part 2 = 1.25 hours / 1 LEU

The Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award is terrific, not only because it introduces parents and children ages 0-5 to high quality picture books perfect for the youngest among us, but also because it can easily be applied to early literacy standards like those developed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. NAEYC is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. Join NAEYC member and Indianapolis Wayne Township preschool evaluation teacher, Jeanne Baldwin, to learn more about NAEYC’s early literacy standards, including information about duel language learners. We will also discuss how the Firefly books and programs can support the NAEYC standards. Suzanne Walker, Firefly Chair and Indiana Young Readers Center Librarian will facilitate a discussion throughout the event. 1hr / 1 LEU.

About Jeanne: Jeanne Baldwin works at Wayne Township Preschool in Indianapolis. She has degrees in Early Childhood and Special Education. She has worked in early childhood settings for 25 years, including public and private schools, Head Start, First Steps, and childcare ministries, working directly with young children and providing education and training for teachers and caregivers. Jeanne works as a member of the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award committee. She is a member of the Central Indiana First Steps planning council, the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Council for Exceptional Children, and is currently reviewing proposals for the Division of Early Childhood’s national conference.

About Suzanne: Suzanne Walker received her Masters of Library Science from Indiana University. She is currently the Indiana Young Readers Center Librarian and Director of the Indiana Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Library of Congress. She coordinates Indiana’s Letters About Literature competition annually. Suzanne judged the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards in 2013 and 2014 and the Indiana Poetry Out Loud competition in 2017. Most recently she was a judge for the 2020 Indiana Authors Awards and the 2021 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award. She has presented numerous times at Indiana Library Federation’s District conferences, annual conferences, and youth conferences.

Date Recorded: 6/8/21

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenters: Jeanne Baldwin / Wayne Township Preschool in Indianapolis and Suzanne Walker / Indiana State Library, Indiana Young Readers Center and Director of the Indiana Center for the Book

Resources:

• Link to presentation slides