MUNCIE PUBLIC LIBRARY
BRINGS EARLY LITERACY INTO
THE HOME
Katie Lehman, MPL Early Literacy Coordinator
ADDRESSED IN THIS PRESENTATION

Why the E.L.P began

Steps taken to get the program off the ground

How our program works

Efforts outside of the E.L.P

Plans for future expansion

Frequently Asked Questions
BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Program was started as part of:

The Muncie Action Plan


Muncie’s Kindergarten Readiness Initiative


Created to enhance the quality of life in our city
A series of programs and practices to help get Muncie’s
youngest citizens ready for school.
Early Childhood Education Expansion in Indiana
STATISTICS

Average household income is $30,570

About 33.1% percent of the population lives in
poverty.

Approx. 48% of Kindergartners begin school not
ready with the majority of those students having had
no pre-k education.
Based on the Essential Skills Assessment
 Conducted by BY5 and given to local educators
 Down from approx. 53% percent in 2015

WHY NO PRE-K?

Lack of access

Few preschools located on the South Side
Pre-school vs. Daycare
 PTQ ratings

Cost
 Schedule/Transportation

Family cannot get their child to the school because of
lack of transportation.
 They work during the times preschool takes place.


No pre-k themselves

Not knowing the skills a child needs before they enter
kindergarten.
THE EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM BEGINS

Timeline

Spring 2016

Early Literacy Coordinator Starts
 Develops a plan to reach families and care providers

South side of Muncie, targeting 10-15 families
Develops a series of promotional materials
 Begins establishing partnerships with local organizations


Summer 2016
Early Literacy Program begins at Ross Center
 Begins attending outreach events
 Health Screening Fairs, Head Start Events, and
registration and open house days for the three
elementary schools in the serving area.
 Brings on first family (July 2016)

THE EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM BEGINS

Summer 2016 Cont.
Program jumps from 1 to 6 families in a week
 Brings on 7 more children shortly after the school
year starts, bringing the total number of children
served to 13.


Fall 2016

Begins outreach to Preschools, Daycare Centers,
Home Care Providers, and Classrooms.
Twice a year visits or monthly visits depending on the
needs of the students served.
 Brings educational take home activities for the students
based off of Indiana State Standards.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

Families/Providers express interest by contacting
E.L.C


Families/ Providers must have or serve children ages 1-9
and be located on the south side of Muncie.
E.L.C sets up initial visit to meet the family/provider
and discuss the child’s needs and likes.

Initial Visit Questions:



Child’s information: age, grade, school, and literacy needs
 Any conditions that may affect sessions.
Child’s interests
Where sessions should occur and how frequently
 Sessions may occur in home, at the library, or at the Ross
Community Center.
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

E.L.C creates games and activities to take to
families home.

Based off of
Child’s interests
 Space available
 Time
 Individual literacy needs

Session notes are written following the session
 Meetings are held with families in December and
May to ask about continuing in the program.

OUTSIDE OF THE AREA?

For families/providers that are outside of the
service area
Resource lists of activities and games
 Training sessions at various locations


Main branches or at their location if requested
Sample games
 Referral to our youth services department


Hoping to expand services in the future
OTHER SERVICES OFFERED BY E.L.C


Early Literacy activities/ info sessions at two of
the libraries branches.
Outreach
Visiting day cares to do story times with a standards
based activity/game.
 Visiting classrooms


Teacher gives me a topic they are working on and I bring a
book to read and plan a standards based activity to
accompany it.
OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

A member of:
Ready, Set, Read task force
 Nature Play Days Coalition
 Family Navigators


Work with partnering organizations to increase
literacy in the community in other ways:
Family Literacy Kits (Huffer)
 Mommy Group (NFP)- Currently being developed


In house library programming
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do you have trouble retaining participants?

Do parents have to be involved in sessions?

Do you take another person with you when you
go into the home or to neighborhood outreaches?

What do you do if you cannot reach a parent?

Are you funded through a grant?