February 19, 2018

The Advocate's Toolbox

Tips for the Littlest Writers | First Steps

Pre-writing and writing skills are important in the pre-K years. Help tots strengthen their handwriting with these activities.

This article was published in School Library Journal's December 2017 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

Increase Family Engagement Now | First Steps

The “five R’s of family engagement” include reaching out, raising up, reinforcement, relating to others, and reimagining services.

This article was published in School Library Journal's September 2017 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

Use Props in Early Learning Programs To Add New Dimension

Puppets, photos, stuffed animals, flannel boards, and instruments can be useful in programs for preschoolers for these five reasons.

This article was published in School Library Journal's May 2017 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

Wearable Tech May Build Babies’ Budding Vocabularies | First Steps

A surprise discovery of a “word pedometer” at ALA Midwinter inspires an early literacy experiment.

This article was published in School Library Journal's March 2017 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

How Can Youth Services Staff Meet Early Learning Needs in 2017? | First Steps

Look at the library through an outsider’s eyes to see why some families still don’t use the library. Then make a plan to get those families involved, and pitch it to your supervisor.

This article was published in School Library Journal's January 2017 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

‘Open-Access’ Approach Creates a Parent-Friendly Library | First Steps

Our collections, and ideally our programming and staffing as well, need to reflect the cultures of parents in our community.

This article was published in School Library Journal's November 2016 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

Why toys should be in every children’s department—and how to make it happen | First Steps

Here are easy ideas for integrating the learning power of play into your public library.

This article was published in School Library Journal's September 2016 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

Learning to Like Mother Goose Scripts | First Steps

During early learning programs with patrons who speak Russian, Turkish, and other languages at home, handouts with the words to rhymes and songs become adult learning tools.

The Best Early-Learning Blogs | First Steps

Blogs about flannelboards, rhymes, and creative play are among Lisa Kropp’s top picks.

This article was published in School Library Journal's March 2016 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

Are Bedtime Stories Going the Way of the Dinosaurs? | First Steps

The children will always be there for the stories. It is the parents that we need to turn into lifelong storytellers.

Surprise—It’s STEM for Toddlers!

These sorting, stacking, and other hands-on activities in libraries support math and science learning. Also: a STEM storytime booklist for toddlers and online resources for teaching pre-K STEM.

This article was published in School Library Journal's July 2015 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

Family Place Libraries Recast the Librarian’s Role in Early Learning

A national network now in 29 states, Family Place Libraries, re-envisions public libraries as centers for early childhood information and positions librarians in the role of change agent.

This article was published in School Library Journal's May 2015 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

Virtual Preschool? Believe It or not, It’s a Thing

A curriculum from Vinci, available to parents by subscription, promises to “inspire the genius” in young children. Public libraries have actually been offering remote services to families for a while now, maintains Lisa Kropp, who further considers the notion of virtual preschool.

This article was published in School Library Journal's March 2015 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

PNC Bank’s $350 Million Early Learning Push | First Steps

Banks aren’t traditionally known for innovating with early childhood education programs, but Pittsburgh’s PNC Bank is a happy exception. Its bilingual Grow Up Great initiative builds strong partnerships with libraries and other cultural institutions around early learning.

This article was published in School Library Journal's January 2015 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

Teaching STEAM with Lois Ehlert: Preschool isn’t too early to introduce STEM + art

The books of Lois Ehlert, with their vivid-hued collages, are a staple of the storytime shelf—and a great start for teaching STEAM concepts to toddlers and preschoolers. Which of your favorite titles would fit into a preschool science program? Share them here.

This article was published in School Library Journal's November 2014 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

A National Effort to Read to Kids 15 Minutes a Day Needs Our Support | First Steps

Read Aloud 15 Minutes is a nonprofit organization that’s working to make reading aloud every day for at least 15 minutes “the new standard in child care.” First Steps columnist Lisa Kropp urges libraries to sign on as partners in the effort.

This article was published in School Library Journal's September 2014 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

Chaos in Your Children’s Section? Embrace It. | First Steps

Mayhem, schmayhem. If your library’s children’s room is chaotic, it’s proof that the little ones are learning.

This article was published in School Library Journal's July 2014 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

Preschool and the Income Gap: Libraries Must Step Up to Serve Children of Color | First Steps

The effects of the income gap are starkly evident in long-range studies of our youngest learners, making it critical for libraries to provide early learning services to those who need it the most: poor children.

This article was published in School Library Journal's May 2014 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

Bedtime Math Battles Summer Slide in Both Math and Reading | First Steps

Research shows math skills at kindergarten entry are a better predictor of school success than reading or attention span. With that in mind, Bedtime Math has partnered with libraries to battle summer slide.

This article was published in School Library Journal's March 2014 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.

Goal: 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten | First Steps

Children need to enter school ready to learn to read, which means they must be introduced early to a host of varied vocabulary. Sharing 1,000 books with them before kindergarten—via programs for parents and caregivers that model best reading practices—is the ideal way to do this.

This article was published in School Library Journal's January 2014 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.
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