first 5 forever

first5forever.org.au

The first 5 years last a lifetime 1


Andrea Hurley

[email protected]

First 5 Forever Coordinator

Brisbane City Council Libraries

Donna Neaves

[email protected]

First 5 Forever Program Officer

Brisbane City Council Libraries

Linking with Libraries to Support Early Literacy



What is First 5 Forever?



AEDC findings in 2009 and 2012 indicated that in Queensland the

language and communication domains were areas where children were

at risk and vulnerable.

WHY?



Percentages of children identified as developmentally vulnerable in

Queensland


HOW? Key Deliverables


More early literacy sessions at the library for young children and their parents/carers

Outreach strategies that deliver increased participation of parents/carers

Partnership with local organisations and local early childhood sector workers

Professional development



Snap Shot of Brisbane City Council Libraries


33 libraries including 6 hubs, 1 mobile library and

archives

1.3 million items in our collection

6.2 million visitors

226, 253 attendees at early literacy programs


Where are libraries in Brisbane?


What do libraries offer?


Early literacy advice

Activities for parents and children

Early literacy programs

Resources

Information

ConnectionsALIA Public Libraries Advisory Committee report Early Literacy Framework and Strategy for Australian

Public Libraries February 2014.



Collaboratively improving literacy outcomes for children

The first 5 years last a lifetime

NQS – Quality Area 6

Collaborative partnerships

with families and

communities

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First 5 Forever sessions – What’s new?


Focus on interaction – parent and child

engagement

Slowing down the pace of the sessions:

Repetition

Turn taking – serve and return

Expanding on what children say

Using visual props

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Parent Messages



Parent’s involvement in their children’s literacy experiences has a positive impact on their children’s reading

performance and is key to young children’s future literacy achievement and educational success.

(Rankin and Brock 2015)

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Babies Books and Rhymes

The first three years of your baby’s life are very

important for brain development. As parents,

you can make a real difference by using this

window of opportunity to support baby’s

learning at home. There are four simple things

you can do right from the start – simply talk,

rhyme, read and play with your baby

everyday. (first5forver.org.au)

Examples of Parent Messages



Toddler Time

Use gestures when you speak to your child.

Gestures are an important part of

communication and will help your child

understand what you are saying. Gestures

provide your child with examples of

nonverbal messages that they can use. In

addition, they are thought to be a “bridge” to

learning to say the words they represent. (Source: Hanen Early Language Program, 2011.)




Storytime

Helping children hear the smaller sounds in words

(the syllables), by clapping them out is one way to

develop their phonological awareness. Children can

hear the syllables more easily than each individual

sound in words. Game: Clap the syllables in your

child’s name and other familiar words. Who has the

most claps?

(The Early Literacy Kit, 2010)



Inclusive practice


Chatter Play

Community Outreach

First 5 Forever Stories and Signs

Little Stars Reading Club


Components of Early Literacy



Oral Language

Phonological Awareness

Alphabet Knowledge

Print Awareness

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Supporting the development of children’s mark making skills



What do Brisbane libraries offer to support families and communities?


Free early literacy sessions

Free membership for each person in the family

Each member can borrow up to 20 items at a time

Free access to WiFi

Free reading programs such as Gold star and Little

Stars

Parent information and literacy advice

Interactive floor and table

Opportunity to connect with others

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Engaging and Partnering for Collective Impact


WorkshopDiscuss an effective partnership you have

experienced. What did it look like?

What would an effective partnership with your local

library look?

How would you measure the success of this

partnership?

How can we establish and maintain this partnership?

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What can you do to strengthen the link between your service and your local

library?


Ideas:Invite libraries to visit your service on Open Days

Advertise library events at your service

Become a service member of the library

Encourage families to become members

Have a ‘Library book of the week’

Make regular visits to the library with your children

Include library staff as community helpers

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Overview and Summary


What is First 5 Forever and why?

How is Brisbane City Council implementing First 5 Forever?

What do libraries offer to support families?

How can libraries, early childhood and community services

work together?

Questions?

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first 5 forever

Education