Public libraries play a key role in ensuring
that every Ohio child starts kindergarten
ready to learn to read.
New and Updated Resources from Ohio Ready to Read
Updated 5/20/13. New! Download Grab and Go Literacy Station templates for the Five Practices.
Find an expanded listing of compilations of early literacy research on the Research and Advocacy page.
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Learn a lot about Ohio Ready to Read in two minutes by viewing our Prezi overview.
The ORTR Library is a collection of storytime outlines, booklists, scripts, sample publications, links, and other "shares" for librarians to plan early literacy activities. New resources include a guide to creating early literacy play areas written by Constance Dickerson of Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library, and a variety of successful implementations of ECRR2 to inspire you. Browse, borrow, and use! More submissions eagerly sought. See the ORTR Library page for details.
Need training? ORTR trainers are available to come to your library and present the new Early Literacy 101 training, which incorporates content from both editions of Every Child Ready to Read and additional resources and tools you can use to share early literacy concepts with your community. See the Training page for details and to request a training.
ORTR offers the Ohio Early Literacy Crosswalk to help librarians and early-childhood professionals work with four early literacy frameworks: ECRR1, ECRR2, Ohio Department of Education Early Learning and Development Standards, and Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework Outcomes. The ODE Pre-Kindergarten Learning Standards were replaced by new Ohio Early Learning and Development Standards in fall 2012. The new standards will be effective in the 2013-14 school year. The ORTR Crosswalk will be revised in summer 2013 to reference these new standards.
Every Child Ready to Read Update:
The revision of the national Every Child Ready to Read® @ Your Library® (ECRR) program focuses on five simple practices--talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing--that develop language and pre-reading skills in children beginning at birth. The ECRR2 toolkit is available from the ALA Store.
ORTR offers the Ohio Early Literacy Crosswalk and ECRR2 section of the Ohio Ready to Read Library to support libraries' use of ECRR2.
Saroj Ghoting debuted her new workshop, STAR POWER™, in Ohio in August 2011. This workshop, sponsored by Ohio Ready to Read, introduced ECRR2 and explored early literacy in storytimes, library environments, and library programs. STAR POWER™ workshop handouts and materials are available for free download on the Training Opportunities page.
Saroj has also developed several helpful companion resources for libraries adopting ECRR2, including a summary of the early literacy components (skills) (PDF) and a chart showing how the early literacy components and the Five Practices support each other (PDF). More resources are available on Saroj's website.
Ensure the success of children in your Ohio community:
- Attend a training workshop to help you build a firm foundation in early literacy. You may request a free Early Literacy 101 or Fun and Facts training for your staff. Ready to Read trainers are available to travel to your library and offer these workshops.
- Offer storytimes incorporating the six early literacy skills (PDF) that children need to develop in order to be ready to learn to read.
- Prepare at-risk parents for their role as their child's first teacher through Parent/Caregiver workshops you offer in your community. Resource-packed Ohio Ready to Read Kits for libraries help you prepare for and present your workshops. The kits now include 2nd edition ECRR manuals and brochures!
- Learn and share other effective ways to promote kindergarten readiness. Find tools throughout this site and contribute your own resources to the Ohio Ready to Read Library.
Learn more:
PLA/ALSC Every Child Ready to Read® @ Your Library® is a national, research based initiative to give public library staff the training, skills and tools they need to contribute to the school success of young children. ECRR incorporates simple practices to help parents and other caregivers develop early literacy skills in children from birth to age five.
Ohio Ready to Read is a joint initiative of the Ohio Library Council and State Library of Ohio to educate Ohio's families on the importance of early childhood literacy through resources and activities available at Ohio's public libraries.
For more information about Ohio Ready to Read, contact:
Krista Tokarz, Cuyahoga County Public Library, ORTR Task Force Chair
Janet Ingraham Dwyer, State Library of Ohio, ORTR liaison