Thank you, Volunteers!

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/joan NULL.jpg)As the 2011-12 Raising A Reader program year draws to a close, we would like to extend sincere gratitude to all of our volunteers. We appreciate all of the time, energy, and talents that volunteers offer in service of our students, teachers, and families.

This year, over 70 volunteers supported Raising A Reader’s literacy efforts through annual events and ongoing projects. We’re also excited to announce the addition of professional internships that support fund development and research, as well as program coordination.

Volunteer work and events included:

• The annual book sort
• Library blue bag stuffing
• Storybook activity preparation
• Survey data aggregation

Volunteers helped make 2011-12 a banner year. If you’re interested in supporting Raising A Reader as a volunteer, please contact Veronica Flores Malagon at veronica.flores-malagon@rarbayarea.org (veronica NULL.flores-malagon null@null rarbayarea NULL.org), or (415) 683-5464.

This week, April 8 -16, the American Library Association celebrates National Library Week (http://www NULL.atyourlibrary NULL.org/national-library-week). In particular we would like to highlight two special days this week.

Tuesday, April 10 ~ National Library Workers Day

While we are thankful for all the librarians who support our program, special appreciation goes to:

• Christy Estrovitz, Early Literacy Specialist, San Francisco Public Library
• Nina Lindsay, Supervising Librarian for Children’s Services, Oakland Public Library
• Laurie Willhalm, Children’s Outreach & Program Librarian, Oakland Public Library

These librarians and their coworkers help support our mission to promote family engagement and book sharing.

Wednesday, April 11 ~ National Bookmobile Day

San Francisco Public Library  has launched an online contest to Guess the location of the Green Bookmobile.
You may enter daily, April 6th – 16th, for your chance to win a bookmobile visit. Click on the bookmobile highlight on the sfpl.org (http://sfpl NULL.org/) home page and enter your guess.

Even if you don’t win a special visit from the bookmobile you can find the Early Library Mobile (http://sfpl NULL.org/index NULL.php?pg=0300021101)throughout San Francisco.

Meet a STAR RAR volunteer – Abdullah

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Abdullah NULL.png)

When did you first learn about RAR?
I learned about RAR while volunteering in the Book Sorting Event in Caltrans Oakland Office Basement on August 28, 2011.
Why do you think RAR is important?
It’s all of our moral duty to make the best use of our lives and work towards a better future.

Colors in my dreams from the pages of my childhood books. Dreams of a life where there is compassion, care, love, justice and no hunger. My dreams have been shattered. Everyday, I wake up to the reality of life…hunger, injustice, greed, war, drought, global warming, recession. What are we leaving for our future generation?

I hope, one day my dream will come true with your help. I am waiting to celebrate that day with thousands of RAR raised readers. I want to tell them the colors in their story books have come true. Please join us with RAR to raise those future readers and a better future.
 
This message is approved by Abdullah Mahmud, Caltrans-District 4, 2011 CSECC Chair, who has joined RAR volunteering effort to raise thousands of readers in the Bay Area.  

Do you have young children? (If yes, what is your reading routine? Do you have a favorite children’s book?)
I do not have children. So I do not get to read children’s books.

Partners in Progress

Over the last 10 years, research on early brain development has consistently told us that the first 5 years of a child’s life are central to shaping their later success in school and beyond.   Investment in early learning can be the key to helping many families of low income break the cycle of poverty.   Check out this powerful video by the First Five Years Fund (http://www NULL.ffyf NULL.org/) which captures that message.

Can’t see the video? Click here: http://youtu.be/Eis-CLs6ds8 (http://youtu NULL.be/Eis-CLs6ds8)

Thank you to all of our partners; teachers, site directors, parents and funders who are committed with us to investing in great experiences that support the healthy development of children!  By promoting early book sharing and empowering parents to be leaders in their children’s education, we can close the achievement gap and set in motion a future to avoid the pitfalls that too often plague low income families.

(http://www NULL.sfgate NULL.com/cgi-bin/article NULL.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/25/EDB11JK75V NULL.DTL&ao=all)

This article appeared on page A – 11 of the San Francisco Chronicle

(http://www NULL.americanlibrariesmagazine NULL.org/news/ala/celebrating-15-years-children-cultures-and-books)

A Family Literacy Celebration 

El día de los niños/El día de los libros, or Children’s Day/Book Day, is a nationwide annual celebration of children, families and reading which emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Hundreds of libraries, schools and communities throughout the country will host celebrations and programs that honor multiculturalism and stress the importance of books and literacy.

“Since 1925, Día del Niño, or the Day of the Child, has grown as an annual celebration throughout Mexico. This day recognizes children, pays homage to their importance in society, and endorses their well being. Pat Mora, a Texas native and nationally recognized author of children’s books, first heard of this Mexican tradition during a 1996 interview for a public radio program.”

Source: http://www.texasdia.org/Toolkit/History.pdf (http://www NULL.texasdia NULL.org/Toolkit/History NULL.pdf)

Through lots of hard work and grass root support for a celebration linking language and literature, Día became an officially recognized event on April 30, 1997.  This year Día will celebrate it’s 15th anniversary!

Join in the fun and check out these great local events:

Oakland Public Library – (http://cs NULL.ala NULL.org/websurvey/alsc/dia/details NULL.cfm?id=1991)Elmhurst Branch (http://cs NULL.ala NULL.org/websurvey/alsc/dia/details NULL.cfm?id=1991)

April 23rd, 2:30pm – 5pm

San Francisco Main Library (http://www NULL.sfpl NULL.org/index NULL.php?pg=1004918601) (http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/dia2011 NULL.png)

April 24th, 1pm – 4pm

San Leandro Main Library (http://www NULL.sanleandro NULL.org/civica/inc/displayblobpdf NULL.asp?blobID=8098)

April 30th, 11:00am – 1:30pm

Oakland Public Library – Cesar Chavez Branch (http://www NULL.eventkeeper NULL.com/code/popevent NULL.cfm?curOrg=OAKLAND&curHelp=NONE&curTZMode=AIRLINES&curTZOffset=123&ref=BRANDABLE&refNote=BRANDABLE&eID=2200604)

April 30th, 12pm -4pm

Oakland Public Library – (http://cs NULL.ala NULL.org/websurvey/alsc/dia/details NULL.cfm?id=1991)Martin Luther King Jr. Branch (http://www NULL.eventkeeper NULL.com/code/popevent NULL.cfm?curOrg=OAKLAND&curHelp=NONE&curTZMode=AIRLINES&curTZOffset=123&ref=BRANDABLE&refNote=BRANDABLE&eID=2171122)

April 30th, 1pm – 2:30pm

Carmen Flores Recreation Center, Oakland (http://events NULL.kqed NULL.org/events/index NULL.php?com=detail&eID=17316)

May 7th, 12pm – 3pm

(http://www NULL.patmora NULL.com/book_pages/bookfiesta NULL.htm)

To learn more about Pat Mora, the event’s core mission, or other celebration ideas visit  www.patmora.com (http://www NULL.patmora NULL.com/)

Click h (http://www NULL.ala NULL.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/initiatives/diadelosninos/Info%20Sheet_FINALDia NULL.pdf)ere (http://www NULL.ala NULL.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/initiatives/diadelosninos/Info%20Sheet_FINALDia NULL.pdf)to download the 2011 Día book list.

(http://www NULL.naeyc NULL.org/woyc)

April 10–16, 2011, is the Week of the Young Child (http://www NULL.naeyc NULL.org/woyc), an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

NAEYC first established the Week of the Young Child in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood years (birth through age eight) lay the foundation for children’s success in school and later life. The Week of the Young Child is a time to plan how we – as citizens of a community, of a state, and of a nation – will better meet the needs of all young children and their families.

source: http://www.naeyc.org/woyc/faq (http://www NULL.naeyc NULL.org/woyc/faq)

Visit the NAEYC website for Key Facts About Children and Families (http://).

During Week of the Young Child, Raising A Reader staff will be at:

Jumpstart for a Day
Thursday, April 14, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
San Francisco Civic Center Plaza
Selected preschool children and teacher’s will experience various hands-on learning stations, inspired by a popular children’s book.

Week of the Young Child Celebration and Resource Fair
Friday, April 15, 9:00am – 3:30pm
Children’s Fairyland, Oakland
Parents and families can learn about safety and wellness at this celebration and resource fair.
Please NOTE: This event is for Oakland Head Start parents only.

To learn about additional activities, check out the calendar of events  for 2011 Week of the Young Child ( http://www NULL.childrenscouncil NULL.org/?q=community/WOYC), assembled by the Children’s Council  of San Francisco.

For more information about Early Care and Education in San Francisco and Alameda Counties visit:

• The Department of Children, Youth & Their Families -  San Francisco (http://www NULL.dcyf NULL.org/Content NULL.aspx?id=1440&note=1462&ekmensel=14_submenu_16_btnlink)
• First 5 Alameda County (http://www NULL.ackids NULL.org/index NULL.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=8)