Today more than ever, educators realize that ages 3 to 5
present a unique window of opportunity in a child's learning. The encouragement
and opportunities for literacy that children receive during this time set the
course for future success in learning. Now, home day-care providers in Champaign
County licensed to care for children ages 3 to 5 can learn new ways to encourage
that early childhood learning.
The Reading Group, a Champaign-based not-for-profit educational clinic, will offer "Building Blocks to Literacy: Nurturing Early
Childhood Learning." Specialists will go into the homes of licensed family child-care providers to provide activities with children and training for caregivers during three one-hour sessions. The Reading Group has a limited number of fee waivers available for family programs that apply and demonstrate need.
For an application, call The Reading Group at 351-9144 or e-mail us at info@readinggroup.org, providing the application information requested at the bottom of this page.
BUILDING BLOCKS WORKSHOPS
As a parent and licensed family daycare provider, you will learn new ways to encourage emerging literacy by nurturing enthusiasm for books, promoting children's self-confidence, helping children develop language skills (such as vocabulary and rhyming), fostering good listening skills, and helping children develop the coordination skills needed for writing.
Training topics are:
Making the most of storytime: print awareness, developing vocabulary, and acquiring language
Playing with sounds: using sounds as building blocks, recognizing the rhythm of language, rhyming and making words from sounds
Learning to listen: listening games and making sense of sounds (pitch, volumeand matching)
Setting the stage for writing: scribbling with meaning, putting the child's words on paper, providing materials and opportunities for drawing and writing
Hands-on activities: ater writing, sand tray writing, using pegs,
stringing beads, tracing and using puzzles.
PROGRAM STAFF
Rita Young, BA, AMS certified, Early Childhood Coordinator
Rita was director of the Montessori School
of Champaign-Urbana for 20 years. She is on the faculty of the MECA
Montessori Teacher Training Center. As a staff member at The Reading
Group, she specializes in working with preschool and kindergarten
children using multisensory instruction.
Michael Marks
Michael provides teacher training programs and specializes in working with
preschool and kindergarten children who are gifted and at risk for
school learning problems. He was the founder and director of the
Creative Discovery School in Champaign for 12 years as well as served as an early childhood teacher at
University Primary School in Champaign.
FUNDING
The Building Blocks Program is funded through a Success
by 6 grant with theUnited Way of Champaign County, IL as well as through a grant from Target. The
Reading Group is a United Way Partner. Funds for books have
also been provided to The Reading Group for early Childhood programs.
Congratulations! You've turned to the right source for specialized reading instruction. The Reading Group is a not-for-profit learning center
located in southwest Champaign, at Village At The Crossing. We’ve been serving this community for 37
years with highly specialized, one-on-one instruction. We offer lessons to students ages 3 and above, in most subject areas and
for any skill level, including special needs such as dyslexia, speech and language developmental delay, asperger's syndrome, autism or gifted learning needs.
