WILL THEY BE

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WILL THEY BE FOR SCHOOL
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LEARNING BEGINS AT BIRTH
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THE BRAIN AT BIRTH
Childrens brains develop and they learn more
rapidly from birth to age three than at any other
time in life.
SOURCE Rethinking the Brain New Insights Into
Early Development, Rima Shore, Families and
Work Institute, 1997
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FORMING CONNECTIONS
Beginning at birth, childrens brains begin to
develop connections called synapses based on
their experiences.
SOURCE Rethinking the Brain New Insights into
Early Development, Rima Shore, Families and
Work Institute, 1997
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WIRED FOR SUCCESS
The more experiences and learning opportunities
-- the more connections are made. The connections
that are used often become permanent. Those that
are not are eliminated.
SOURCE Rethinking the Brain New Insights Into
Early Development, Rima Shore, Families and
Work Institute, 1997
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EARLY EXPERIENCES COUNT
Childrens early experiences largely
determine the way they will learn, think and
behave for the rest of their lives.
SOURCE I am Your Child
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BRAIN ACTIVITY
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan
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Parents and Caregivers MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

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Early learning experiences are as important as
those received later in school.
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PREPARED FOR SCHOOL?
ONE-THIRD of American children enter kindergarten
unprepared to benefit from classroom instruction.
SOURCE R.E.A.D.Y. to Learn A Mandate for the
Nation, E.L. Boyer, Carnegie Foundation for the
Advancement of teaching, 1991
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Children who enter behind -- stay behind
Nearly 40 of Michigan 4th graders and over 30
of 7th and 11th graders received low scores on
the reading portion of the MEAP test in 2001.
SOURCE 1998 Michigan School Report
(http//mde.state.mi.us/reports/msr
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FACT
80 of children labeled "learning disabled" are
actually "reading disabled."

SOURCE Michigan Department of Education, Office
of Special Education
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CAN WE DO BETTER? ABSOLUTELY!
Michigans dedicated teachers cannot do the
job alone. It is imperative that parents
become more involved in their childrens
education. Governor John Engler
Research shows that most children can learn to
read.
SOURCE National Institutes of Health
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Read, Educate and Develop Youth

was launched by Governor Engler in 1998.
R.E.A.D.Y. Kit
Beaumont Hospital
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Why R.E.A.D.Y ?
1) Increase awareness that childrens early
years are learning years. 
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2.) Provide parents and care- givers with
information and activities to help children
develop the language and literacy skills
needed to enter school READY.
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3.) Develop a learning partnership that
begins at home and continued throughout
school.
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Kit Contents
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THE R.E.A.D.Y. Kit comes prepared for three age
groups Infants (0 - 1) Toddlers (1 -
2.5) Preschoolers (2.5 - 4)
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THE R.E.A.D.Y. KIT INCLUDES A BROCHURE
ALL AGES
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THE R.E.A.D.Y. KIT INCLUDES A QUALITY
CHILDRENS BOOK
AGE SPECIFIC
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THE R.E.A.D.Y. KIT INCLUDES A LIST
OFENJOYABLE AGE APPROPRIATE BOOKS
AGE SPECIFIC
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THE R.E.A.D.Y. KIT INCLUDES A MUSICCASSETTE
ALL AGES
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THE R.E.A.D.Y. KIT INCLUDES A VIDEO TAPE
AND BOOKLET -
ALL AGES
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THE R.E.A.D.Y. KIT INCLUDES A
CHILDDEVELOPMENTWHEEL
ALL AGES
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THE R.E.A.D.Y. KIT INCLUDES FOUR EASY TO
FOLLOW PARENT/CHILD ACTIVITY CARDS and a
ACTIVITY MAGNET
AGE SPECIFIC
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INFANT Activities
1.) TALK to your baby Babies learn to talk
when people talk to them. 2.) READ to your
baby Babies learn to love reading, develop
listening skills and recognize sounds. 3.)
SING and SAY Rhymes Repeating words,
songs and nursery rhymes help babies recognize
sounds. 4.) Listen and Respond to your
babys talk. This encourages babies to try to
talk and helps parents become sensitive to their
childs needs.
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TODDLER Activities
1.) READ, READ, READ everyday Toddlers
recognize and learn the sound of words, how to
hold a book and listen. 2.)
SCRIBBLEDRAWWRITE Scribbling is the first
form of writing and goes hand-in-hand with
learning to read. 3.) POINT and NAME
Toddlers begin to recognize and learn letters
and form words. 4.) TALKLISTENCREATE
Toddlers learn and begin to understand words
and their meaning, recognize their thoughts
are important and place their thoughts in
order.
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PRESCHOOLER Activities
1.) TALK all day long As children talk, they
learn how to use and say words and expand their
vocabulary. 2.) PLAY, PRETEND, PLAY
Children learn by doing and practicing. 3.)
LOOK and READ Children begin to
understand that written words
represent things and how reading
works. 4.) WRITE and DRAW Children learn
to read and write together and
understand that writing is just talk
written down.
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PREPARING CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL
NEW To Learn Literacy Pack
New teacher-tested, parent-approved R.E.A.D.Y.
materials are now available to increase
childrens reading readiness prior to entering
school.
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NEW AWARD WINNING VIDEO
Parents and children doing fun learning
activities
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HOW DO WE KNOW WORKS?
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R.E.A.D.Y. PILOT
Birthing Hospitals Health Care Facilities Head
Start Programs Child Care Centers Community
Health and Social Service Locations

• 35,000 R.E.A.D.Y. kits were hand delivered to
  parents

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R.E.A.D.Y. EVALUATION

• To ensure the kit and its contents were useful,
  extensive test marketing was done with parents
  and educators.

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What did people say about the KIT?
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PARENTAL RESPONSES

• I couldnt wait to get it opened - it was like
  a gift.
• It provided something educational for me and my
  child.
• It should have been done a
• long time ago.

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PARENTAL RESPONSES

• Each piece of the kit was rated very useful.
• Nearly all parents surveyed said they would
  recommend
• the R.E.A.D.Y kit to a friend.

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IT WORKS!
Over two-thirds of parents said the kit
motivated them to read and interact more with
their young child.
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EDUCATOR RESPONSES

• This kit is full of
• good information,
• the kind parents need long before their kids are
  old enough to
• go to school.

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EDUCATOR RESPONSES
EDUCATORS VALUE THE KIT

• This is excellent
• I wish every parent
• in Michigan could
• have this kit right from the start.

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BECOMES NATIONAL MODEL

• Parents and caregivers serve as the front line
  of support for our nations youth. I
  applaud Governor Englers efforts and thank him
  for helping to keep Americas Promise.
• General Colin Powell
• Chairman of Americas Promise

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CORPORATE SPONSORS Allstate Insurance Consumers
Energy Childrens Television Workshop and
Sesame Street Daimler Chrysler Detroit Edison
Foundation Dow Chemical Harcourt School
Publishers Harper Collins Books I Am Your
Child Kmart Scholastic, Inc. Sony Music United
Parcel Service Walt Disney Records Whirlpool
R.E.A.D.Y. is funded through a combination of
federal, state and corporate support.
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R.E.A.D.Y. Distribution
Over 630,000 kits have been hand delivered to
parents and caregivers.
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R.E.A.D.Y.S FUTURE
The R.E.A.D.Y. Kit and other products can now be
obtained for a nominal fee in Michigan and soon
throughout the country.
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GETTING R.E.A.D.Y.
To order kits and materials contact the
Educational Materials Center at (800)
214-8961 For program information, contact Jan
Ellis [phone].
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HELPING YOUR CHILD SUCCEED

• Provide a loving and nurturing environment
  
• Obtain and use the R.E.A.D.Y. materials
• Do learning activities like reading, talking,
  playing, singing with your child everyday

• Be responsive to your child
• Encourage safe exploration and play
• Serve nutritious
• foods

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HELPING YOUR CHILD SUCCEED

• Use discipline as an opportunity to teach
• Make TV watching selective

• Choose quality child care and stay involved
• Establish routines for your child
• Recognize each child as unique

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READ, READ, READ
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Reading is a childs passport to the future.