About Ready to Learn
Ready to Learn is a 12-month school readiness project funded with $571,000 by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement. The funding period runs from Sept 2009 thru Sept 2010. All activities of Ready to Learn support and complement the efforts of the local Red Wagon Kids Plan.
Ready to Learn Goal
Equip our youngest children with the proper readiness skills and knowledge so that they enter school with the best opportunity to succeed from the start.
How about Kindergarten Camp?
Perfect for kids starting kindergarten next year.
Its Free!
Preschoolers will have fun & learn by exploring kindergarten readiness skills.
Activities include stories, crafts, games.
Skills practiced include:
Alphabet & letter recognition
Numbers & math concepts
Fine & gross motor skills
Cooperation with others
For more info, Call Brenda at
888-2020
Ready to Learn Partners
- WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program
- Shady Dell Early Childhood Center
- Burrell Behavioral Health
- Mayor’s Commission for Children
- Community Partnership of the Ozarks
- Springfield-Greene County Library
- Spfd Public Schools - Parents as Teachers (PAT)
- City of Springfield
How Ready to Learn Helps
- Increases availability of Parents as Teachers activities for young at-risk children
- Makes available and enhances early learning activities for young children
- Provides guidance and instruction to early childhood education staff
- Increases opportunities for young children to experience early literacy activities
- Provides young children with free books
- Offers social and emotional development learning activities
- Provides parents with training to increase their skills and knowledge of school readiness
All Ready to Learn activities respect a child’s natural need for exploration, creativity, discovery, self-expression and build upon interests and prior knowledge of families. Utilizing parent workshops, family literacy activities, parent-child projects, and free book distributions we leverage our school readiness resources
Results of Yr 1 funding
The first year of funding ($574,000) for Ready to Learn covered school readiness activities from Sept 2008 thru Sept 2009. An executive summary of results can be found here. R2Lexec (pdf)
For more info contact: dbredfeldt@springfieldmo.gov
Useful links
This Department of Education site has many resources for families of young children. Free materials to help children become better readers and prepare for school are available. Read them online or order materials at:
http://www.ed.gov/parents/read/resources/edpicks.jhtml?src=ln
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children birth - 8. Visit their site at:
http://www.naeyc.org/
The National Institute for Literacy finds scientifically based research on how young children develop early reading and writing skills. For tips on preparing kids to read and write successfully, visit their site at:
http://www.nifl.gov/earlychildhood/earlychildhood.html
The Literacy Center Education Network is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization with a mission to deliver free, professionally-designed, education material to preschool-age children. Utilizing the power of the Internet, The Literacy Center Education Network distributes education material directly to children in their homes, libraries, and schools. For free materials useful at home, in preschool or childcare settings check out their website at:
http://www.literacycenter.net/