Books in barbershops. Parent ambassadors spreading the mission of vocabulary growth in their neighborhoods. Live animals, interactive musical performances, hands-on art programs and science experiments in libraries and community spaces.
These are just a few aspects of the Words at Play Vocabulary Initiative. Here in Philadelphia, we strive to embed library and cultural resources in vulnerable communities, to support families and their young children in closing the 30 million word gap through fun, cross-curricular, hands-on community-based programs. After all, we can say that parents are a child’s first teacher, but what can we do to truly support them and celebrate their successes and hard work?
Words at Play Vocabulary Initiative is a collaborative project of The Free Library of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute, The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Philadelphia Zoo, funded by PNC Grow Up Great. Join us at the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando on Saturday, June 25 to learn more. We will meet from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM in Orange County Convention Center, Room W108.
We are looking forward to sharing our ideas and experience with you, and to hear from YOU about your collaborations and partnerships.
Hope to see you there!
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Today’s guest bloggers are Sarah Stippich and Carrie Kreider.
Sarah Stippich is the Early Literacy Coordinator for the Free Library of Philadelphia. She is a longtime children’s librarian and is a member of the Every Child Ready to Read Oversight Committee. Her favorite books right now are The Listening Walk by Paul Showers and Aliki, and Jabberwocky, illustrated by Christopher Myers.
Carrie Kreider is the Early Childhood Outreach Specialist for the Words at Play Vocabulary Initiative at the Free Library of Philadelphia. She has graduate degrees in Curriculum & Instruction and Reading, and her professional interests include music as a tool for literacy and social justice education. Her favorite books (today) are This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen and Geek Love by Katherine Dunn. Find Carrie on social media @ctkreider .
Image provided by the Free Library of Philadelphia. All rights reserved
Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.
If you’d like to write a guest post for the ALSC Blog, please contact Mary Voors, ALSC Blog manager, at alscblog@gmail.com.