Literacy

Building literacy is a central priority in all of IHSD’s programs. In collaboration with partners in the community, IHSD offers an array of activities to help children build the skills they need to learn how to read. We also work with other agencies to improve the literacy of those parents and families who struggle with reading or who are English-language learners.

IHSD engages in and supports the following activities and programs promote emergent literacy in children:

• Reading Is Fundamental: A national program that helps parents get involved with children’s reading, shows children that reading can be fun, helps families enjoy stories and books together, and gets books into the hands of children.
• Raising A Reader: A local program funded by Peninsula Community Foundation and the County Office of Education, that ensures every child brings home a book bag filled with a collection of quality donated children’s books each week. Parents receive a video to enhance their skills in reading aloud and helping their children develop a love for reading.
• Story time by local librarians: All classrooms have a regular story-time presented by local librarians.
• Field trips to local libraries: All classrooms make regular visits to their local libraries to check out books.
• Book area: Each classroom has an inviting book area, where a variety of books and props stimulate children’s interest in reading. Books are available in English, Spanish and other languages.
• Writing area: To increase children’s awareness of printed words, each classroom has a writing area.
• Children portfolio:Teachers compile samples of children’s writing to track children’s development and progress.
• Book making: Daily classroom activities incorporate a variety of book-making projects.
• Reader’s theater: Children can enact or retell their favorite stories in the classroom area with props and learning tools.
• Computer area: Computers in every classroom have software that brings a variety of literacy-focused activities.
• KQED “First Book” Project: Distributes books free of charge to Head Start children.

The following activities promote family literacy:

• Reading Is Fundamental: This program provides opportunities for parents to assist program staff in selecting books for their children and organizing literacy events.
• Raising A Reader:This program encourages parents to share books with their children daily. “Read Aloud” home videos and other resources in their native languages help to enhance the family’s reading experience.
• ESL classes: Several of our Head Start sites have weekly English as a Second Language classes on site
• Project Read: This adult literacy training program help parents improve their abilities to read to their young children. Sessions offered in-home or on site include storytelling, fingerplays, and language enrichment activities.
• Even Start: The Even Start Family Literacy Program integrates early childhood education, adult literacy and adult basic education, and parenting education into a unified literacy program. IHSD partners with Even Start in Half Moon Bay.
• Literacy van and book mobile: Literacy vans are stationed at three of our Head Start sites, where parents and children have easy access to a lending library of quality books.
• Home activities
• Library events
• Head start trainings