Read Together Program

The Read Together Program scripts are developed by Saroj Ghoting and based on information from the Every Child Ready to Read @ your library program of the Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA) divisions of the American Library Association.+ It provides you with scripts that can be used in several ways including the following:

  • As a Drop-In Program

  • As an On-the-Spot Program or One-on-One Interaction

Drop-In Program

Library sets up a 1 1/2 to 2 hour time once a week for a Read Together Program. Parents/caregivers drop in for 5 minutes or more. Set up the display noted. As people come in with their children, determine the age/stage of the child and use the part of the script that is most appropriate. Then the parent and child take some time to read together practicing the skill. The appropriate Read Together Card can be handed out. 

On-the-Spot Program / One-on-One Interaction 

Decide on the script you will use for the week. Set up a display. Anytime an adult comes in with a young child, use the script to talk about an aspect of the skill. Use the child's age/stage of development to determine which part of the script to say. Have a display set up for the week. Encourage the parent and child to read together to practice the skill you spoke about. The appropriate Read Together Card can be handed out.

The Scripts

There are 4 scripts for each of the six early literacy skills. Each script highlights one aspect of the skill. You can choose to do all 4 scripts for one skill "in a row" or you can mix up the skills, i.e. Phonological Awareness #1, then Vocabulary #1, etc. 
Each script is broken down by age-level: babies, toddlers, two- to three-year-olds, and four- to five-year-olds. For each level, activities are noted for supporting the skill with a book and without a book. Scripts below are in MSWord format. 

  1. Print Motivation Read Together Script

  2. Phonological Awareness Read Together Script

  3. Vocabulary Read Together Script

  4. Narrative Skills Read Together Script

  5. Print Awareness Read Together Script

  6. Letter Knowledge Read Together Script

The Cards

 The Read Together cards are handouts that support the scripts and actually correspond to each script. While they can be used independently of the scripts, some terms may not make sense unless they are explained.
1. There are two sheets (back-to-back) of Introductory cards which give informaiton on early literacy, on each of the six skills, and space for information on your library. The cards are designed to have a hole punched in the upper left-hand corner. These 8 cards can be put on a ring and handed out the first time. 
2. As you go through the scripts, hand out the card that corresponds to the script. Each card is labelled with the name of the skill, the script number, and the age-level. The front of each card summarizes activities that support the skill using a book. The back of each card summarizes activities that support the skill without using a book. These cards can be hole-punched and then added to the ring handed out initially. If you need any of these files in MSPublisher format, please contact me. 

  1. Introductory Cards pdf

  2. Print Motivation Cards pdf

  3. Phonological Awareness Cards pdf

  4. Vocabulary Cards pdf

  5. Narrative Skills Cards pdf

  6. Print Awareness Cards pdf

  7. Letter Knowledge Cards pdf

I do not have the resources to have these translated. If you find them useful and have them translated, please send the translations to me and I will add them here (with credit given).

+ Thank you to the following for ideas and feedback in developing the scripts and the cards: Katie Ross, Kanawha County (WV) Public Library, Pamela Martin-Diaz, Allen County (IN) Public Library, Abby Kiracofe, Columbus Metropolitan (OH) Library, Staci Shaw, Idaho Commission for Libraries, Renea Arnold, Multnomah County (OR) Library, and to Cheryl Allen and Angela Reynolds who piloted the project for DC Public Libraries. 

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Learning Parties for You and Your Tot

or Breakfast Club for You and Your Tot 

These programs were developed for DC Public Library as one aspect of their STAR (Sing, Talk And Read) early literacy initiative. It is a six-week program for newborn to three-year-olds and parent/caregiver. One skill is discussed each week. Funds were available to give away one book each week. 
Below you will find the script, handouts and flannel board aids that are mentioned in the scripts. In addition there is a handout each week entitled What You Might Do/What You Might See. This handout serves to help parents/caregiver remember activities that relate to the skill that was highlighted and as the basis for parent-to-parent sharing at the following session. 
The words to rhymes and songs can be used as handouts and/or can be blown up to use as flipcharts by the presenter. The photo magnet handed out the last week is available from Janway Company. (www.janway.com Item number PF MAG FC-S) 
STAR Song

Week One: Phonological Awareness
Script

  1. For Presenter: Synaptic Density graphic

  2. For Presenter: Synaptic Density information in large type

  3. For Presenter: Flannel Board Figures of Animals

  4. Handout: Flannel Board Figures--Animals

  5. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See

Week Two: Vocabulary
Script 

  1. For Presenter: Flannel Board Figures of Baby Animals

  2. For Presenter or Handout: If You're Happy

  3. Handout: Flannel Board Figures--Baby Animals

  4. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See

Week Three: Narrative Skills 
Script

  1. For Presenter: Brain and Conversation graphic

  2. For Presenter: Brain and Conversation information in large type

  3. For Presenter: Flannel Board Figures of Two Little Blackbirds

  4. For Presenter or Handout: Two Little Blackbirds

  5. For Presenter or Handout: Five Little Monkeys

  6. Handout: Flannel Board Figures--Two Little Blackbirds

  7. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See

Week Four: Print Awareness
Script

  1. For Presenter: Flannel Board Figures of Little Boy Blue

  2. For Presenter or Handout: Little Boy Blue

  3. For Presenter or Handout: I'm A Little Teapot

  4. Handout: Flannel Board Figures--Little Boy Blue

  5. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See

Week Five: Letter Knowledge
Script

  1. For Presenter: Flannel Board Figures of Shapes

  2. For Presenter: Letters--O, N, n, h

  3. Handout: Flannel Board Figures--Shapes

  4. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See

Week Six: Print Motivation
Script

  1. For Presenter: Flannel Board Figures of Hickory Dickory Dock

  2. For Presenter or Handout: One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

  3. Handout: Flannel Board Figures--Hickory Dickory Dock

  4. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See

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Learning Parties for You and Your Preschooler

Learning Parties for You and Your Preschooler or
Breakfast Club for You and Your Preschooler 
These programs were developed for DC Public Library as one aspect of their STAR (Sing, Talk And Read) early literacy initiative. It is a six-week program for three- to five-year-olds and parent/caregiver. One skill is discussed each week. Funds were available to give away one book each week. 
Below you will find the script, handouts and flannel board aids that are mentioned in the scripts. In addition there is a handout each week entitled What You Might Do/What You Might See. This handout serves to help parents/caregiver remember activities that relate to the skill that was highlighted and as the basis for parent-to-parent sharing at the following session. 
The words to rhymes and songs can be used as handouts and/or can be blown up to use as flipcharts by the presenter. The photo magnet handed out the last week is available from Janway Company. (www.janway.com Item number PF MAG FC-S) 
STAR Song

Week One: Phonological Awareness
Script

  1. Cards to demonstrate Say It Fast/Say It Slow Game (pencil/turtle)

  2. Handout: Pencil/Turtle

  3. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See

Week Two: Vocabulary
Script

  1. Handout:Spider/Sun Finger Puppets

  2. Handout: Spider/Sun Stick Puppets

  3. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See

  4. Eensy Weensy Spider Flipchart/Handout

Week Three: Narrative Skills 
Script

  1. For Presenter: Brain and Conversation graphic

  2. For Presenter: Brain and Conversation information in large type

  3. For Presenter: Blue Sea Pattern (pdf)

  4. Handout: Blue Sea Flannel Board (pdf)

  5. Handout: Dialogic Reading Bookmark

  6. There Was a Little Turtle (optional handout)

  7. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See

Week Four: Print Awareness
Script

  1. Handout: Door Hanger

  2. Five Little Ducks (optional handout)

  3. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See

Week Five: Letter Knowledge
Script

  1. For Presenter: Letters for Bingo Song (pdf)

  2. Writing Development (pdf)

  3. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See

Week Six: Print Motivation
Script
Handout: Reading Crown (pdf) 
Handout: What You Do/What You Might See

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Idaho Read to Me Workshops

Idaho Commission For Libraries 
Program that involves young children (ages birth to 6) and their parents/caregivers in learning the early literacy skills that help to prepare children for reading success in school. 
For further information click here.
Scripts and Handouts:

Idaho Commission for Libraries
Program that involves children (ages birth to 6) and their parents/caregivers based on the five practices from Every Child Ready to Read 2nd edition.

Early Literacy Stations
* Idaho Commission for Libraries (for each skill, downloadable posters, activities and instructions, each library pulls books and provides materials) 

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Sing Talk And Read STAR for You and Your Tot

A six-week program for newborn to three year olds (newborn - 35 months) and parent/caregiver. One skill each week. Book giveaway.
N.B. pdf files are smaller and quicker to download than Word files, but cannot be easily edited.

Flyer for publicity--download in Word and add your specific information 

Week One: Phonological Awareness
Script

  1. Handout: Flannel Board Figures--Animals

  2. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See [Word] [pdf]

Week Two: Vocabulary
Script

  1. Handout: Flannel Board Figures--Baby Animals

  2. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See [Word] [pdf]

Week Three: Narrative Skills 
Script

  1. PET Scan for Conversation | large type script

  2. Handout: Flannel Board Figures--Two Little Blackbirds

  3. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See [Word] [pdf]

Week Four: Print Awareness
Script

  1. Handout: Flannel Board Figures--Little Boy Blue

  2. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See [Word] [pdf]

Week Five: Letter Knowledge
Script

  1. Handout: Flannel Board Figures--Shapes

  2. Handout: What You Do/What You Might See [Word] [pdf]

Week Six: Print Motivation
Script
Handout: Flannel Board Figures--Hickory Dickory Dock 
Handout: What You Do/What You Might See [Word] [pdf]

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Newsletters: Opening the Gift

A Daycare Storytime Program
Harford County (MD) Public Library 

Melinda Chase, Harford County (MD) Public Library
Opening the Gift Newsletter for Daycare Storytime Program
A Sampling 
Includes book titles, songs, rhymes, early literacy tip 

  1. Eggstraordinary Eggs

  2. Cookies and Milk

  3. Hip, Hip, Hippos, Hooray

  4. Plenty of Pockets

  5. Rolling in Dough

  6. How Corny!

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Non-library Programs Adaptable to Libraries and Outreach