Upcoming Events

Meeting the Language and Literacy Needs of Every Young Child!

Academically, children learning to speak English often lag behind their peers when they enter school. The Maryland State Department of Education confirms that 53 percent of English speaking children possessed the skills and abilities needed to do kindergarten work successfully, while only 37 percent of English language learners were fully ready for school in 2002. Unfortunately, this 16-point gap is getting larger, up from a 14-point gap in 2001-02. And, English language learners continue to struggle thoughout their school years. In 2003, only 7 percent of limited-English speakers passed the High School English exam needed to graduate.

To help educators and policy makers address these challenges and meet the Language & Literacy needs of every child, Ready At Five will host the 2004 School Readiness Symposium Series:

• Empowering English Language Learners
  Keynote Speaker: Betty A. Smallwood, Ph.D., Center for Applied Linguistics
  Date: November 16, 2004
  Location: Holiday Inn Columbia
  Time: 8:30 AM Registration & Continental Breakfast, 9:00 AM - 12:15 PM Program & Discussion
  Cost: $45
  Register now for this unique and interactive discussion. Pre-registration required.
  

  Symposium Series attendees will receive continued training credit (clock hours) through the Maryland Department of Human Resources, Child Care Administration-Office of Credentialing.

Other Events of Interest

• Check back soon!

Proceedings of Past Events

• Promoting Language & Literacy for Young Children from Diverse Backgrounds, the first in the 2004 series on meeting the language and literacy needs of every child, featured Dr. Nonie Lesaux, Associate Professor at Harvard University, Graduate School of Education. Click here to review the presentation or references.
  
• Roar Into Reading: Help Your Child Become a Reader, a special program for parents, featured the cast and creators of the acclaimed PBS Children's TV program Between the Lions. Leona Lion and Christopher Cerf, Co-Creator and Creative Producer lead the discussion on things parents can do with their children to improve language and literacy development. Click here for activities to build Language & Literacy skills.
  
• Fostering Emergent Literacy and School Readiness: Providing Balance and Best Practices featured Dr. Dorothy Strickland, Senior Research Fellow at the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University. Click here to review the session's abstract, including key scientifically based reading research findings and predictors of reading success.
  
• Costs and Benefits of Preschool Outlined at School Readiness Symposium!
  "Preschool: Not Just an Academic Investment" featured Steven Barnett, Director, National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University. Click here to review the data-based power point presentation.
  
• Second School Readiness Symposium held in May 2002!
  "Investing in the Future" featured Dr. Fran Bond, Director, Professional Development & Technical Assistance Center, Ready To Learn, PBS. Click here to review the abstract.
  
• Ready At Five's 2001 School Readiness Symposium a Success!
  "What's Ahead for Early Care and Education: Maryland's Role in Setting the Agenda" featured Dr. Sharon Lynn Kagan, the Virginia and Leonard Marx Professor of Early Childhood and Family Policy at Teachers College, Columbia University and Senior Research Scientist at Yale University's Child Study Center. Click here to review the abstract.
  
• Jurisdictional Strategic Planning
  In 2002 and 2003 Ready At Five offered 4 jurisdictional strategic planning meetings A Strategic Planning Guide is now available to help local communities conduct similar strategic planning meetings.

Other Events of Interest

• Training for early care and education providers on each of the seven Domains of Learning will be held at Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis, MD throughout the 2003-2004 school year. For more information contact the Maryland Committee for Children.