B. Library Services A1. Lee y Sers B1. Library LiNKs A2. Pre-K Library Visits AISD Student Access A3. Life Through Literacy/PEP Students Library LiNKs in Schools A4. Stories to Our Children A5. Reading Corps B2. Library Courier Services
A. LIBRARY PROGRAMS
A1. Lee y Sers Lee y Sers is a school readiness program designed to work with parents and their children ages 0-4 years old. The goal of the program is to empower parents as their childs first and most important teachers and role models. These one-hour sessions emphasize the importance of developing early literacy skills, as well as demonstrate simple methods parents can use to develop pre-literacy skills in their children.
Lee y Sers was implemented at select Arlington ISD Title 1 elementary schools during the fall 2012 semester. Parents and their children gathered once a week for six weeks at their childs school. An Arlington Public Library Program Specialist introduced early literacy concepts, modeled ways in which parents could support concept development at home, and engaged parents in hands-on activities with their child to practice the newly acquired knowledge.
Session Concepts: Session One: Introduction to Lee y Sers and Library Resources Session Two: Oral Language Session Three: Phonological Awareness Session Four: Alphabet and Concepts of Print Session Five: Writing Awareness Session Six: Math Awareness
Additional components of the program that were highly popular were the early literacy kits and library books that were available for check out. These kits and library books provided parents with additional tools to support learning at home! Parents used their Arlington Public Library card to check out items at their weekly session. They took these library items home during the week and engaged in learning with their children. Parents returned items the following week at class. All the kits were English/Spanish bilingual, which enabled Spanish-speaking parents to utilize the materials.
APL Impact Report The Arlington Public Librarys Impact on Education September 2012 December 2012
Impact: Lee y SersSurvey Results: School Number of Surveys Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Amos Elementary 14 100% 100% 100% 100% Anderson Elementary 13 100% 100% 100 100% Atherton Elementary 18 100% 100% 94% 100% Blanton Elementary 8 100% 88% 88% 100% Burgin Elementary 4 100% 100% 100% 100% Johns Elementary 8 100% 100% 100% 100% Morton Elementary 45 100% 100% 100% 97% Pope Elementary 10 100% 100% 100% 100% Rankin Elementary 10 100% 100% 80% 100% Roquemore Elementary 5 100% 100% 80% 100% Sherrod Elementary 7 100% 100% 100% 100% Webb Elementary 4 100% 100% 100% 100% Totals 146 100% 99% 97% 99% 1. Did you learn new information or activities you can do at home with your children? 2. Did you engage in learning with your child using the literacy kits? 3. Did center time "reinforce" the topics of the classes? 4. Did you engage in learning with your child using the handouts? Lee y Sers Survey Questions:
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A2. Pre-K Library Visits All pre-k 3 and 4 classes, from participating TLI campuses, visited the George W. Hawkes Central Library for a special experience! Library staff worked closely with pre-k teachers to schedule a library visit specifically for the pre-k students from their campus. Teachers, parents and children engaged in an exciting story time designed for preschoolers and got a private tour of the childrens library. All students received a little red bag, an age-appropriate book, a My First Library Card (if parents submit an application), and special early literacy handouts for parents. Impact: Library Visits Fall 2012 Semester Schools AM Classes PM Classes Total Students Library Cards Amos Elementary 28 26 54 25 Anderson Elementary 61 50 101 98 Atherton Elementary 66 54 120 91 Berry Elementary 88 85 173 130 Blanton Elementary 71 52 123 66 Burgin Elementary 63 55 118 80 Crouch Elementary 59 71 130 95 Crow Elementary 36 32 68 52 Foster Elementary 41 45 86 54 Goodman Elementary 41 33 74 47 Hale Elementary 56 56 112 70 Johns Elementary 64 67 131 109 Veda Knox Elementary 46 47 93 57 Morton Elementary 79 51 130 62 Rankin Elementary 36 33 69 49 Remynse Elementary 43 50 93 67 Roark Elementary 60 65 125 79 Thorton Elementary 74 69 143 77 Totals 1,012 941 1,943 1,308
Students enjoying a special story time with Mr. Eric
Student enjoying a special story time with Mr. Eric Students returning to school with all their goodies APL Impact Report The Arlington Public Librarys Impact on Education September 2012 December 2012
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This is a copy of an article about the library field trips. AISD Access, November 16, 2012
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A3. Life Through Literacy: Supporting Parents in AISD High Schools This spring, young parents and parents-to-be in the Arlington high schools will learn about the joy and power of reading to their little ones. Dozens of parenting and expecting parents in the PEP program at Arlington, Bowie, Lamar, Sam Houston and Seguin high schools will participate in the Life Through Literacy classes offered this year by Arlington Reads. One of the goals of Life Through Literacy (LTL) is to help teen parents understand that important learning begins long before their little ones first days in preschool or kindergarten. In fact, the experiences a baby has in the first few years of life have an incredible impact on his or her chances for school success. LTL participants learn that simply talking, reading, and singing with their babies often leads to strong language development, a critical building block of reading skills. Students learn how engaging in these fun activities facilitates bonding and help develop their little ones critical thinking and social skills. Another advantage, at each of the five sessions, each parent receives a new board book or picture book to add to his or her own home library. For many, books become their babies newest, favorite toys! For some LTL parents, the idea that they have an essential role in contributing to their childs readiness for school is a new one. However, once they realize how special and important that role is, they are excited about it! Life Through Literacy equips them with the awareness and the tools to do a great job as their little ones first, most important teachers. APL also provided copies of Baby Basics to support learning offered by the AISD PEP Nurse, Ms. Rachel Ibarra. Ms. Ibarra works one-on-one with PEP students and uses these books during their individual sessions. Students keep the books and planners to help with the health aspects of their pregnancy. Impact: Life Through Literacy *Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 Semesters School Semester Baby Basics Books Students Contact Hours Board Books (take home ) Arlington High School Fall 2011 10 16 47 54 Spring 2012 9 n/a n/a n/a Bowie High School Fall 2011 12 13 68 56 Spring 2012 8 14 21 28 Lamar High School Fall 2011 10 n/a n/a n/a Spring 2012 18 24 99 91 Martin High School Fall 2011 4 n/a n/a n/a Spring 2012 3 n/a n/a n/a Venture High School Fall 2011 20 n/a n/a n/a *single visit Spring 2012 15 29 29 29 Sam Houston High School Fall 2011 15 n/a n/a n/a Spring 2012 50 18 56 41 Seguin High School Spring 2012 5 5 15 13 Totals 179 119 335 312
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A4. Stories to Our Children: The gift of sharing stories creates lasting bonds across generations. Through the Stories to Our Children program, parents were empowered to write about their life experiences, passing on family and cultural traditions to provide a window from the past to the future. In the spring 2012 semester, we brought Stories to Our Children to six locations: Pope Elementary, Berry Elementary, Atherton Elementary, Morton Elementary, Southeast Branch Library and the Literacy House.
Participants attended a series of five writing workshops, in which they wrote, illustrated, and refined their stories. Our goal was to support the role of mothers and fathers as the first and most important teachers. With the guidance of committed volunteers, parents learned how to explore their ideas at deeper levels while getting hands on experience with the writing process. Parents also worked on their stories at home, modeling the reading and writing skills they practiced in the sessions. Some shared that their children were inspired to explore the world of books through a new lens and even to write their own stories. These parents were honored at a celebration with renowned author Pat Mora. Participants received a bound copy of their story and a book bin to give it a place of honor amongst their childrens first books.
During the fall 2012 semester, we offered Stories to Our Children at Lamar High School to expecting and parenting teens from the PEP program. This program is still being offered and the final celebration is scheduled for February 2013.
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Impact: Stories to Our Children Fall 2012 Semester Location Teen Authors Family Participants Contact Hours Lamar High School PEP 14 *final program in Feb 2013 26
A5. Reading Corps: Reading Corps is a volunteer-based program with the goal of assisting children in pre-k 4 through third grade in reading not only in developing skills, but also in instilling a love of reading and literature in children. Volunteers will donate at least one hour per week to work with children in schools, libraries or other educational or recreational settings in our community. The program is not designed to provide students with one-on-one instruction from a reading specialist. Reading Corps provides students with an opportunity to engage students in reading and writing with a volunteer from the community. They will read books that are of interests to the student, pen their thoughts and ideas on paper to support writing, and engage activities that contribute to the development of early literacy skills. Volunteers must complete an AISD and City of Arlington background check and attend a training session to be able to participate. APL has AmeriCorps VISTA members oversee a specific area of the community to coordinate the work of volunteers in that area, and generate new community partnerships to become engaged supporters of the project.
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Reading Corps: Fall 2012 (Pilot Programs) The Arlington Public Library piloted Reading Corps at two locations during the fall 2012 semester. One location was at the Literacy House located at 101 E North Street. The Literacy House is the location in which Arlington Reads offers free literacy programs to the community. Registration at this site was open to all students, not just AISD students. The second location was in collaboration with the Salvation Army and Crow Elementary. Students that participated in this Reading Corps site were children enrolled in the Salvation Army youth program. The Salvation Army transported children to Crow Elementary for an after-school program. Reading Corps sent volunteers to read with the children. Reading Corps Impact: Fall 2012 Semester
School Pre-k 4 Kindergarten 1st grade 2nd grade 3rd grade Total Students Total Reading Hours Amos Elementary 1 1 1 1 1 5 51 Berry Elementary 0 0 0 1 0 1 6 Burgin Elementary 2 1 1 2 2 8 36 Crow Elementary 0 0 0 0 3 3 11 Foster Elementary 1 0 0 0 0 1 7 Davis Elementary 0 0 0 0 1 1 16 Kooken Elementary 1 0 0 0 0 1 16 Morton Elementary 2 3 0 1 0 6 53 Pope Elementary 0 0 0 1 0 1 16 Roark Elementary 0 1 0 1 0 2 11 Swift Elementary 0 2 4 6 2 14 49 Totals 7 8 6 13 9 43 272 *This data only includes AISD students. There were additional students that participated in the fall 2012 program that were not included. Reading Corps Sites: Spring 2013 Semester APL will launch 15 Reading Corps locations during the spring 2013 semester. This chart is a list of confirmed AISD campuses or a location that will service AISD students. Amos Elementary Kooken Elementary Atherton Elementary Literacy House Boys and Girls Club Rankin Elementary Crow Elementary(Salvation Army) Sherrod Elementary Johns Elementary Veda Knox Elementary
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B. LIBRARY SERVICES
B1. Library LiNK The Arlington Public Librarys Library LiNK program provides innovative library service to the Arlington community that goes above and beyond traditional branch library facilities.
AISD Student Access AISD students have access to public library resources using their student ID card. Students can: Access online learning services from the librarys website. Some online resources include learning languages through Mango or Muzzy, Work Book, Britannica Online, and Learning Express. Download e-books and audio books for recreational reading. Search the catalog and place holds on material. Schools that have APL courier service can have materials sent to the campus. Check out two (2) books on their AISD student account. With parental approval, students may expand these privileges up to 50 items by receiving an APL Go Card (grades Pre-K 6) or a MY Card (grades 7-12).
Library LiNKs in Schools These sites provide circulating collections of materials for adults within AISD schools so that families can use school libraries together. These school libraries are open outside regular school hours to the families of children attending these schools. Library users may request materials from the librarys general collection to be sent to these schools for pickup and may return materials there. School library staff is able to issue Arlington Public Library cards to adults and children. Impact: Library LiNK Circulation Library LiNK September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 Total Atherton Elementary 10 67 105 182 Hale Elementary 27 13 35 75 Roark Elementary 10 30 59 99 Webb Elementary 22 46 76 144 Short Elementary * 59 30 46 135 Farrell Elementary* 1 1 39 41 *Non-Texas Literacy Initiative Campuses
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Impact: Library Circulation for AISD Elementary Schools (TLI)
Arlington Public Library Locations
School Age Central East LA NE SE SW WW LL Total Amos Elementary 6 and older 39 143 0 0 48 0 0 0 230
Less than 6 177 411 25 19 211 7 0 0 850
Total 216 554 25 19 259 7 0 0 1080 Anderson Elementary 6 and older 1 99 0 0 11 0 0 0 111
6,958 15,368 484 4,184 2,280 396 1,358 92 31,120 * September 2012- December 2012 Data APL Impact Report The Arlington Public Librarys Impact on Education September 2012 December 2012