SEEDS of School Readiness and Early Literacy Program is a series of seven 2 1/2 hour sessions for adults that care for 3 to 5 year old children.  SEEDS was designed to give child care providers information about how to create a literacy rich classroom or home for 3 to 5 year old children.

Session 1.  Creating a Literacy Rich Environment
                    The first session of SEEDS will help participants discover ways to make their home/classroom literacy rich.  Discussion will include literacy skills that children are expected to be able to do before kindergarten, what literacy and emergent literacy are, and how to provide learning opportunities in daily routines with children.

Session 2.  A SEEDS Quality Teacher
                    In the second session of SEEDS, participants will learn what a teacher can do and say in their daily interactions with children to encourage literacy.  Discussion will also include how to ask questions to promote language development, how to encourage a child using the teaching tool of affirmation, and how to create a literacy rich schedule.

Session 3.  Developing Thinkers and Talkers
                    The third session of SEEDS will help participants identify language milestones on the road to talking.  Discussion will also include strategies to promote language development in all children through running commentary, word wall, and conversation; and the "Bib 5" emergent literacy skill areas.

Session 4.  Literacy and Language Grow Together
                    The fourth session of SEEDS will help participants identify how to promote vocabulary and background knowledge throughout the daily schedule.  Discussion will also include what phonological awareness is, then fun and meaningful ways to promote the phonological awareness with young children, and using thematic lesson plans to promote vocabulary development.

Session 5.  Print and Book Rules
                    In SEEDS- session five, you will learn how to intentionally use the "Big 5" emergent literacy skills during read-aloud time with children.  Identify and demonstrate the different "hear and say" reading strategies, and what makes up a print-rich classroom.

Session 6.  The Writing Process and Letter Knowledge
                    This session will provide participants with an opportunity to demonstrate the Big 5 with a book.  As we look at how the writing process begins at birth, we will also learn how writing and letters in daily routines impact children.  Strategies to teach children about the alphabet will be shared and reflected on.

Session 7.  Make a Literacy Plan That Includes Involving and Informing Families
                    The last SEEDS session will review the Big 5.  Participants will have an opportunity to write a Literacy Work Plan / Goal Setting and discuss strategies for creating a family involvement plan.

SEEDS of School Readiness Overview

SEEDS of  School Readiness Early Literacy Training is a series of seven, 2 and 1/2 hour sessions for adults that care for three to five year old children.  SEEDS was designed to give child care providers information about how a SEEDS quality teacher can create a literacy rich classroom or home for three to five year old children

At the end of training, the participants will be able to...

SESSION 1:  Creating a Literacy Rich Classroom.

• Describe ten or more ways to make their home/classroom literacy rich.

• Identify then or more literacy skills that children are expected to be able to do before kindergarten.

• Describe what literacy and emergent literacy are.

• Demonstrate how to provide explicit learning opportunities in daily routines with children.

SESSION 2:  A SEEDS Quality Teacher.

• Describe what a SEEDS Quality Teacher does and says in their daily interactions with children.

• Demonstrate how to ask questions to promote language development

• Describe how to encourage a child using the teaching tool of affirmation.

• Demonstrate how to create a literacy rich schedule and lesson plan.

SESSION 3:  Developing Talkers and Thinkers.

• Identify language milestones on the road to talking

• Identify stages of learning for second language learners.

• Demonstrate strategies to promote language development in all children through running commentary, word wall, and conversation.

• Identify “Big 5” emergent literacy skill areas.

SESSION 4:  SEEDS of Vocabulary and Phonological Awareness.

• Identify how to promote vocabulary and background knowledge throughout the daily schedule.

• Describe what phonological awareness is.

• Identify then fun and meaningful ways to promote phonological awareness with young children.

• Demonstrate using thematic lesson plans to promote vocabulary development.

SESSION 5:  SEEDS of Print and Book Rules

• Demonstrate intentionally using the “Big 5” emergent literacy skills during a “read aloud.”

• Identify and demonstrate the different hear and say reading strategies.

• Describe a print rich classroom.

SESSION 6:  SEEDS of letter Knowledge and the Writing Process.

• Identify developmental stages in the writing process.

• Discuss fun and meaningful ways to help children become aware of letters.

• Demonstrate SEEDS of Quality Teacher behaviors during daily interactions.

SESSION 7:  Involving and Informing Families in a Child’s School Readiness.

• Discuss strategies for creating a family involvement plan.

• Identify how to involve the local library in creating a literacy rich classroom, home, and family environment.

SEEDS of School Readiness and Early Literacy Program is currently offered through the Child Care Resource and Referral Office in your area as part of their Professional Development Opportunities for Early Childhood and School-Age Programs.

Check for the child care resource and referral office for your area.

E-mail me if you would like more information about SEEDS or for help in finding educational opportunities in your area.