Level Up with Literacy
The State Support Team 1 Literacy Newsletter
Ohio's Theory of Action: Community Collaboration
Throughout the 2020-21 school year, Level up with Literacy has provided curated information and resources aligned with Ohio's Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement.
In April's issue, we discussed family engagement and how to connect families to community resources to help ensure learners have access to literacy support.
This month, we offer suggestions for community partners who can not only partner with you for literacy, but can also help you support each child's educational, social-emotional, physical and safety needs as detailed in Ohio's Whole Child Framework.
Who Can Support Your Literacy Efforts?
When schools connect with:
- libraries
- health care providers
- cultural and religious institutions
- businesses, and/or other
- organizations
This summer, consider who you might ask to partner with your school to help build literacy skills in your students.
Below are just two examples of the ways community organizations and businesses are promoting literacy achievement in Region 1.
TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN
YWCA: How They're Making a Difference
The YWCA's Baby Talk program focuses on family engagement, early literacy, and kindergarten readiness to help families as they support their children in the learning process. Baby Talk is open to all Lucas County residents in Ohio with children birth to kindergarten. Call 419-255-5519 for more information.
We recognize the importance of meeting families where they are
"Collaboration is key in any relationship, but even more so when we are working to make a difference in our community and we understand this mission is accomplished one family at a time."
Tiffany Sullivan
Outreach Parent Specialist
YWCA of Northwest Ohio: Child Care Resource & Referral Department10 Ways to Connect with Families
- Recognize families are the experts on their children
- Come alongside families rather than trying to lead them
- Invite families to share about their children
- Work together with parents, colleagues, and community agencies toward a common goal
- Acknowledge the impact of trauma, and demonstrate compassion
- Look for the strengths of each family and share these observations with them
- Follow through with what you say you will do
- Make human connections by sharing personal experiences to build relationships
- Demonstrate empathy to make connections
- Be open to having difficult conversations, using a nonjudgmental approach
from the YWCA Child Care Resources and Referral Family Service Team
LEARNING IS MAGICAL
With their full-scale models, dioramas, and learning stations, the Graphite Design + Build team transforms spaces into educational experiences that ignite imaginations and encourage engagement.
"We work with our partners to understand their educational goals and approach our interactive educational stations through the mind of a child. When the movements and actions correlate with the facts, these stations open up the opportunity for engagement, allowing families to learn together and create lasting memories."
Jeremy Link
Owner, Designer, Builder, Graphite Design + Build
On designing and building for interactive exhibits for the Toledo Zoo, Columbus Zoo, Toledo-Lucas County Library, and Metroparks Toledo
International Dyslexia Association of Northwest Ohio
Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center
Family Engagement: The Why and the How
July 26-30 and August 2
Power Dynamics and Family Engagement
August 3 & 4
Reframing the Conversation about Family Engagement
August 5 & 6
Additional Resources
- Download the slide deck
- UnBoundEd: Equitable ELA Instruction
- TNTP: The Opportunity Myth
- EdReports: Why Materials Matter Interactive Infographic
SAVE THE DATE - Registration is open for these fall conferences:
September 17
Hosted by the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center
Contact State Support Team Region 1
Please feel free to reach out if you have questions or need guidance on instruction, increasing educator capacity, or any other literacy-related topic.
Email: info@sstr1.org
Website: sstr1.org
Location: 2275 Collingwood Blvd., Suite C, Toledo, OH, USA
Phone: 419.720.8999
Twitter: @SST_Region_1
There are no copyright restrictions on this document; however, please cite and credit the source when copying all or part of this document. This document was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, (Award #H027A200111, CFDA 84.027A, awarded to the Ohio Department of Education). The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, and no official endorsement by the Department should be inferred.