School's out, but learning isn't

School just let out for the summer, so why am I writing about getting ready for school? Simple. Learning moments that occur every day are the essential ingredients to school success for children. So, as the formal school year wraps up, the Born Learning Coalition is gearing up to continue outreach to families with preschoolers.

The premise of Born Learning, a countywide coalition convened by United Way and managed by the Community Alliance to Promote Education (CAPE), is that by providing opportunities for families and communities to prepare children for success in school, we set the stage for high school graduation, post-secondary education and a vibrant economy. During the past school year, three activities were piloted: prenatal education outreach, play and learn groups and Blast Off to Kindergarten - open house events at every elementary school in the county that introduced families to teachers and the school environment.

The United Way Vision Council that identified the early learning strategy got an update on these activities last week that included focus group feedback and participation numbers from all three activities. Overall, reports indicate excellent results - Blast Off events reached 680 children that will be entering kindergarten this fall and the prenatal outreach volunteers from the Joy Circle of Park Place Church of God met with 470 families of the 1056 per year that deliver at Community Hospital. The feedback from these activities will help improve and expand the services.

The Vision Council also reviewed seven objectives set forth by the Born Learning Coalition for development over the next two years. The objectives outline a variety of activities and outreach initiatives that will connect families to resources across Madison County. These objectives will put learning tools in the hands of families that need them and will create access to information for all families. Here is a sampling of what will become visible through this work:

• Prenatal packets and outreach volunteers will eventually visit every new mother in the county;
• Learning tools will appear in local media and at partner locations, including a series, ABC's Designed by Me, sponsored by The Herald Bulletin;
• Born Learning Trails will be set up at a variety of public locations to provide family fun and learning activities outdoors;
• Play and Learn groups and Literacy Parties will provide parent-to-parent interaction and support;
• Schools and libraries will continue to provide transitional information and activities to prepare children to enter kindergarten;
• Progress will continue to be measured through surveys and Kindergarten literacy tests.

One simple tool that got a lot of attention from Vision Council members is a list titled "I am Ready for Kindergarten." Even the grandparents around the table perked up at this simple list of skills that children should know before they begin school. The list includes academics (recognition of colors, shapes, patterns; matching abilities, etc.); social, physical and language skills; and math skills (counting from 1 to 10, recognizing numerals, understanding the concepts of adding and taking away, etc.). The entire list is on our web site: www.unitedwaymadisonco.org (click on Find Help). Many other tips and resources are available at www.bornlearning.org. (Born Learning is a trademark of United Way of America.)