Tag Archives: Literacy

Kent District Library to ask voters for one-year millage on Aug. 6 ballot to bridge 2025 funding gap

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By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


In November 2023, Kent County voters approved a 15-year renewal millage for the award-winning Kent District Library system. However, the approved ballot language does not give KDL the authority to assess the new millage until December 2025, resulting in a one-year funding gap.

KDL will ask voters to consider a one-year nonrenewable millage at a rate of 1.1 mills on the Aug. 6 ballot that, if approved, will support the system’s 2025 operations.

Gap millage details

The gap millage is at the same rate property owners pay now, and there is no overlap with any other KDL millage.

If approved, the millage will generate $27.6 million, which will cover the expense of physical and digital collections, employees, programs and events, tech tutoring and other library services, rent and other expenses in 2025.

KDL Outreach and Programming Specialist Susan Erhardt reads to children (Courtesy, KDL)

The average homeowner in the KDL service area would pay $145.75 annually for access to its broad array of services – or about $2.80 per week, less than the cost of most cups of coffee, which is the same as what they are paying now.

“More than 90% of KDL’s operating costs are paid by millage dollars,” KDL Executive Director Lance Werner said. “An issue with the 2023 millage dates occurred inadvertently and has resulted in our need to go back to voters for a one-year millage to fill this funding gap. There’s no overlap and no double-dipping.

“If the gap ballot question does not pass voter approval in this election cycle, KDL will be forced to make substantive cuts to our team, hours, branches, services and programs in 2025.”

If passed, the millage will be used for KDL operating costs (Courtesy, Sophia Rolfe)

The millage will be levied Dec. 1, 2024 to fund 2025 library operations until the 15-year renewal millage can be accessed in December 2025.

This is a one-time request to bridge the funding gap in 2025. KDL will not ask for a renewal of this millage.

How KDL serves the community

KDL serves more than 440,000 residents in 27 municipalities through 20 branches, an Express Library, a bookmobile, its main service center, 5,000-plus annual in-person programs and a host of patron-focused services, from in-branch printer/Wi-Fi access and loanable mobile hot spots to early literacy initiatives and an extensive assortment of talking books and Braille resources.

KDL Grandville Branch Library Jocelyn talks with a patron about book selections (Courtesy, KDL)

Early literacy and education partnerships are a cornerstone of KDL service for the community. KDL has a long-standing tradition inspiring students to continue their learning through the summer. In addition to helping students and their families directly, KDL provides a wide array of resources to teachers, which can be found online here.

KDL’s collection is comprised of more than 700,000 physical items and 15.6 million digital items. These include books, e-books, apps, magazines, movies, television programs, audio books, video courses, video games, music, online databases, research materials and at-home learning materials, as well as access to statewide materials and collections.

KDL works to provide a variety of resources and materials for the community (Courtesy, KDL)

In 2023, total circulation rose 8% to more than 7.6 million while public computer usage grew 18% and Wi-Fi usage grew 6%. KDL is in the top 50 libraries worldwide for OverDrive digital circulation.

Known for family-friendly programs, KDL offers more than 6,400 programs and outreach events each year, from popular baby/toddler/preschool storytimes, learning labs and craft classes to book clubs, concerts and special activities.

The system employs more than 340 people and receives 5,900-plus hours annually from more than 650 volunteers.

Resource links

“KDL remains committed to fostering a lifelong love of reading, learning and critical thinking,” Werner said. “Funding from this millage is critical in order for us to continue to operate and provide resources for all in our community throughout 2025.”

More information on the one-year millage proposal and a millage calculator can be found here.

More information on KDL and the services and resources they offer can be found here.

Flights of Fantasy: Michigan author provides opportunity for writers to submit to community service anthology

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(Courtesy, Pages Promotions)



By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


(Courtesy, Pages Promotions)

Diana Kathryn Penn is dedicated to promoting literacy. And she is doing so through the community service anthology titled Flights of Fantasy.

“I feel compelled to serve others through the written word not only to help them improve their skills and passion for storytelling, but when I do it, I feel like I’m contributing something important to humanity,” said Penn.

Through her company, Pages Promotions LLC, Penn offers editorial, book design, mentoring and marketing services. In addition, she hosts an annual virtual book festival for independent authors, the “Indie Reads Podcast” and offers 2-3 community service anthology projects each year.

Flights of Fantasy is the most recent anthology project currently accepting submissions.

“For this collection, we are calling for stories and poems written specifically with children in mind,” Penn says on her website. “Each story or poem must include the concept of flight or the action of a person, animal, fantastical being, or thing flying.”

(Supplied)

Submissions must be 200-10,000 words and rated “ALL” for all ages. Multiple submissions and previously published works are accepted, and there is no entry fee. All ages are encouraged to submit, though parent/guardian permission is needed for those under age 18.

Submission deadline is April 30. All proceeds from the sale will benefit the Haley Sue Foundation.

Community service…through writing

Since 2014, Penn has facilitated and published 26 anthologies. The anthology quest began when her son was required to perform a certain number of community service hours in order to graduate high school.

“He was frustrated that so many of the options he had were performing manual labor,” said Penn. “He asked why he couldn’t do something creative, something that had a more lasting impact.”

Together, Penn and her son developed the idea of using their imaginations to serve. They talked with his teachers, suggesting students use their computer time to strengthen their English composition skills.

“The concept went over very well, and I’ve been facilitating these anthologies ever since.”

(Supplied)

Penn sees the anthology projects as confirming the value of creative writing as a legacy for the community and promoting literacy in an exciting way.

“It is also a spectacular way for new writers to ‘test drive’ the writing process, see their work published, and discover if a larger writing career is something they want to pursue,” said Penn.

Leaving legacy through literacy

When asked what drives her to support lovers of the written word, Penn quoted the film The Dark Crystal: “Writing is words that stay.” Penn believes that is at the core of why she is passionate about written communication and storytelling.

“I’ve always held the belief that writing our stories – whether fiction or nonfiction – is the best way to record a history and connect future generations to the life we’ve lived,” said Penn. “Story is the touchstone that teaches us about the customs, mindsets, possibilities and struggles humanity endures and thrives in and past.”

(Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Penn went on to say that stories help us to live up to the standards we imagine we are capable of achieving. Stories give us permission to embrace all emotions and the wonderment found in places that perhaps we may not have thought to look.

“We can learn so much from those who put words on the page, emotionally, socially, intellectually, and in a myriad of other ways. To my mind, the most important job in society is that of the librarian, for they keep everyone’s memories, lessons, expectations, and possibilities safe for generations.”

Because of this, Penn donates the time she puts into the Pages Promotions anthologies.

“My main goal in life is to create more words that stay,” said Penn. “That is a life’s calling…money isn’t the goal. Much like the soul who plants a tiny tree, I may never spend time enjoying its shade when it matures, but I live enthusiastically through the idea that others will enjoy the tree long after I’m gone.

“I think that’s worth a little bit of extra effort without the instant gratification of a larger bank balance.”

Advice for those who love the written word

Penn’s advice to both youth and adults who are hesitant to begin writing:

Writing is best discovered through a series of gentle ramps, not steps or cliffs.

Start with something that really speaks to you. Write that story down privately. Don’t show anyone. Just keep it for yourself in the beginning. Realize that every writer on the planet, past, present or future, has begun in the very same way, insecure and bursting with ideas.

(Courtesy, Pages Promotions)

Once you’ve spent a little time doing it just for you, share some of it with someone you trust. Find out what they respond to, what seems to touch them, and then build on that aspect until you are brave enough to give a story to the world that you are proud of without expectation of accolades.

And then…keep doing that.

The most important thing to remember is that there is no wrong or right way. No musts and no shoulds (except for the basics like grammar, spelling, and punctuation).

Writing is a gift we give of ourselves to everyone around us. You choose the speed, the style, the outer wrapping; and when you’re ready, give it away.

Keep writing, keep sharing…

The world needs your voice so they can find their own. The world needs to understand your perspective so they can investigate their own.

Life can’t happen in isolation. Life needs imagination and passion to thrive and grow. If you don’t add your voice…your story to the noise of the world…people will become far less than they could be, restricted in their experience of living.

Learn more!

To learn more about the Flights of Fantasy anthology and how to submit, click here.

To learn more about Pages Promotions services, click here.

Revamped “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program launched by Kent District Library

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KDL has offered the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program since 2015 (Courtesy, KDL)

By Kent District Library

deborah@wktv.org

Kent District Library (KDL) has offered the program 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten since 2015. This year, KDL is pleased provide a new and improved version with the same great outcomes.

The updated program introduces an online tracking option, includes a book with early literacy activities and features Michigan woodland animals.

Reading to children helps them learn early literacy skills (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

All children, infant to kindergarten, are encouraged to participate in this program designed to prepare kids for school. For every 100 books read, kids will earn an animal sticker for their tracking poster. When you reach 1,000 books, your child will be awarded a certificate of achievement and their very own book bag!

Repeating books, listening to audio books, paging through a board book, books read at storytime and reading books in any language all count toward the goal.

“Last year, we committed to creating new inspiration for this popular reading program to ensure that it would remain a fun, relevant and engaging way to encourage early literacy for this generation,” said Dawn Heerspink, Branch Librarian at the Byron Township Branch.

Completing the program is simple, Heerspink continued. “Start or continue reading at least one book a day with the child in your life and see how one book multiplies into many books, all helping that child learn the early literacy skills they need to grow into a reader who enjoys books.”

Stop in to any KDL branch to pick up a tracking and activity booklet for your child that includes a progress poster. Track your reading using the book, online at kdl.beanstack.org, or on the Beanstack app.

Learn more about 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten at kdl.org/1KB4K.

KDL introduces SPARK collection for adult beginning readers

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All 19 KDL branches now have the SPARKS Collection, adult beginning readers. (WKTV Journal/Anna Johns)

By Anna Johns

WKTV Intern

If you are looking to strengthen your reading skills you now have more options at your fingertips with the Kent District Library’s addition of its new SPARKS Collection.

Now available at all 19 KDL branches, the SPARK collection contains books for adult beginning readers. SPARK is a collaboration between the KDL and the Literacy Center of West Michigan. This collection has been in the works since last winter and is now available to the public.

“Literacy is a foundation for a full adult life, providing not only a connection to the world around us but also the independence to make our own choices,” said Samantha Hodge, Collection Development Librarian at KDL. “With the SPARK collection, KDL will be a proud partner for adults working to improve their literacy skills and reach incredible goals.”

Hodge said she has always wanted to create a collection of books for beginning adult readers. In the past, the library had a small collection however it never received much attention. She came up with the idea for SPARK after discovering the High/Lo collection at other libraries across the nation. The High/Lo collection of books with a high-interest level and low vocabulary and readability levels. This way the materials do not intimidate new readers and provide them with interesting subjects.

The SPARKS Collection has a selection of adult beginner readers. (WKTV Journal/Anna Johns)

The Literacy Center of West Michigan guided Hodge in the process of picking books for the collection. This is not the Center’s first time working with the KDL, they have been working with them for the past four years.

The Literacy Center of West Michigan runs an adult tutoring program designed to help non-native speakers learn to speak English. It is the organization’s goal to make West Michigan the region with the highest literacy levels in the nation. Previously, learners would pick up books from the library at the Center but staff at the Center also wanted to have materials available for learners at the public libraries.

“The partnership between KDL and the Literacy Center is supporting adults and children in West Michigan,” said Community Literacy Initiative Director Mike Nassar, . This is a great step to help adult learners in the community.”

According to information provided by the Literacy Center of West Michigan, one in eight West Michigan adults struggle with low literacy. It is the organization’s goal to make West Michigan the region with the highest literacy levels in the nation. The Literacy Center offers one-on-one tutoring, work-related classes, and family literacy programming to students.

“The library wants to partner with you if you want to increase your learning skills or start from the beginning,” Hodge said. “We want to be your partner.”

The collection has had a slow take-off because of the COVID-19 pandemic but the KDL staff is working hard to make the public aware that it is available at all 19 KDL branches and the Bookmobile. For more information visit www.kdl.org

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know

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By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“There’s no fear when you’re having fun.“

~Will Thomas



A few wrinkles in time

Older Michigangians Day, on May 15th, is an opportunity for Michigan seniors to speak with a united voice about the issues that directly affect them. It is also an opportunity to meet new people and enjoy a beautiful day in our State’s capitol. Call Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan to register at (616) 222-7042. Go here for more info.



So good, you can’t
read just one

“You just really can’t replace putting a book in a kid’s hands,” said district Superintendent Kevin Polston at a recent celebration of literacy” at the Early Childhood Center in Wyoming. “There is something special about touching, feeling, seeing the pictures, and engaging with the book. We know there is value to that.” Read all about it here.



Life’s too short, so go on …
have some fun

Experience Grand Rapids (EXGR) invites locals to explore the Grand Rapids area during National Travel and Tourism Week through May 11th using EXGR resources such as Culture Pass GR and Vamonde. Check it out here.

Fun fact:

Details, details

There is actually a difference between coffins and caskets — coffins are typically tapered and six-sided, while caskets are rectangular.



But in the end, does it really matter?



Early literacy skill-building begins at birth

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By Carrie Shrier, Michigan State University Extension


Did you know if you start daily reading at birth, and read with your child for 30 minutes a day, they will go to kindergarten with over 900 hours of literacy time? If you reduce that to 30 minutes a week, they lose over 770 hours of this critical “brain food” and go to kindergarten with just 130 hours of literacy time.


Developing early literacy skills makes it easier for children to read. These early skills, such as building vocabulary, rhyming, and book handling skills make it easier for children to learn how to read when they get to kindergarten. However, more than one in three American children are starting kindergarten without the essential skills they need to be ready to learn to read.


Make a commitment to help your child be ready to succeed in school and commit to engaging in 30 minutes of daily literacy skill-building time starting at birth. Here are seven tips from Michigan State University Extension and ideas to support your young child’s literacy development.

1. Promote high-quality language interactions

Think of yourself like a sports commentator. You are providing the play by play for the infant or toddler in your life. Narrate the world around them, their interactions with toys, even diaper changes. Talk about what is going on, what you are doing, what they are seeing, etc. Research shows that when children have higher levels of language stimulation in the first year of life, they have better language skills, including larger vocabularies.

2. Make art a regular part of the day

In infancy and toddlerhood, young children are learning that their movements and motions can make the marks on the paper. Art experiences provide young children with the ability to practice gripping and holding a marker or crayon, learning to be purposeful in making marks on paper and phenomenal sensory feedback (feeling the paint squish between their fingers, smelling the crayons, etc.). Provide children with a wide variety of art experiences including, but not limited to, coloring with markers and crayons on heavy and thin paper, painting, finger painting, molding paint and clay, etc. Consider using non-traditional paints like chocolate pudding or shaving cream for a fun sensory experience.

3. Read, read, read

Build children’s print awareness and book handling skills by reading to them every day and making books available for children to explore. Consider heavy-duty board books that will survive heavy duty toddler usage. MSU Extension offers ideas to expand on your child’s experiences with books in our free, reproducible Family Book Sheets.

4. Nursery rhyme time

Research in early literacy has proven that regular exposure to rhymes help boost children’s abilities to master pre-reading skills such as rhyme prediction and detection. Add rhymes and rhythms to your child’s day. Read nursery rhymes, sing songs with rhyming words, find fun books with rhymes and add chants or rhymes to routine times of your day, such as cleanup time or bath time.

5. Use baby sign language

Did you know that babies who learned to sign first have been found to have significantly higher vocabularies and higher IQ scores? In fact, babies who learn to sign are more likely to be reading on grade level by the end of third grade. Use signs to teach your baby and toddler basic communication words like eat, more, milk, tired, wet, hot, etc. You can tell your baby is starting to be old enough to sign when you see them waving bye-bye or mimicking other gestures to communicate, such as pounding on their high chair tray for more food.

6. Read it again, and again, and again!

While reading books again and again might be frustrating for parents, toddlers love to have their favorite books read aloud multiple times. The act of re-reading a book helps young children build their comprehension skills and their vocabulary. Consider having special books as parts of your routine, such as a bedtime book you read at the same time every night. Ask questions while you read, can they predict what will happen next?

7. Literacy rich environments

Point out to your baby or toddler all the things you read in a day. Read in front of them, emphasize that reading is something you value. Read cereal boxes at breakfast, magazines in the doctor’s waiting room, street signs while you are driving. Make books accessible to your child. Help your child grow up valuing reading as a critical skill and worthy use of their free time.


It is critical to help your child be ready to read when they go to kindergarten. According to 2017 M-STEP data, only 50 percent of Michigan’s children were reading on grade level by the end of third grade. This is a crucial benchmark because in fourth grade, children shift from learning how to read to reading to learn. The Michigan Department of Education is working diligently to improve reading proficiency, beginning with supporting language, literacy and pre-reading skills in early childhood.


Do your part in supporting your child’s early reading skills. Make an effort to keep reading a priority in your home; a family activity that is fun, engaging and something you do together, every day. Helping your child learn to love reading is an amazing gift.


For more information about early childhood literacy development, programs in your area and webinars, visit MSU Extension’s Early Childhood Development.


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

We need our children to love words

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Courtesy MSU Extension

By Tracy Trautner, Michigan State University Extension

 

Young children are naturally drawn to books. When children listen to a book, they are in the beginning stages of learning to read and also hear words that are quite different from the spoken language. According to Reid Lyon from the National Institute of Health and Human Development, approximately 20 to 30 percent of children have difficulties learning to read. In addition, 15 million children do not have access to any sort of reading materials. In order for children to be successful readers, they need daily exposure to books, have caregivers or parents speak to them on a continual basis throughout the day, recognize letters of the alphabet and know the parts of a book including the role of the author and illustrator.

 

Struggling to read can be embarrassing for children, which can lead to unmotivated young students with low self-esteem. In the long term, many of these students end up dropping out of high school in part due to reading difficulties.

 

So what skills does a child need to learn how to read? Reading requires phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency and comprehension skills. Not one of these skills is more important than the other. (For more information, see International Literacy Association.) Learning to read is not a natural process and requires a lot of practice and exposure.

 

There are some common signs to look for when children are struggling to learn to read. These include but are not limited to:

  • Struggling to recite the words they are reading.
  • Starting and stopping frequently when reading.
  • Not really knowing the content they just read when asked about it.
  • Having a difficult time understanding simple directions and following routines.
  • Easily distracted.
  • Their fine motor skills are slow to develop and have difficulty holding a pencil and picking up small objects.
  • Avoiding storytelling and circle time.

If difficulties are determined in kindergarten or first grade and the child receives intervention services at school, many children can learn to read. A child is learning to read until the end of third grade at which time instruction makes a big shift to reading to learn at the beginning of fourth grade. In fourth grade, there is very little reading instruction and children are reading to learn in their classes.

 

Every year, all students in Michigan take an assessment on what they know and are able to do. For children in grades third through eighth, they are given the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, or M-STEP. Only half of Michigan third graders performed at or above in the English Language Arts section of the M-STEP. As a result, Michigan passed a third grade reading law to ensure all children are proficient in reading by the end of third grade. Students that may not pass may have to repeat the third grade. The third grade reading law requires school districts to come up with an improvement plan to help students who are struggling. More information is available at the following resources:

Michigan State University Extension recommends talking and reading to children as much as possible. One of the ways to do this is to describe the colors and features of things you see throughout the day. Pointing out the yellow bananas at the grocery store or the green leaves on the tree, or mentioning the soft shirt they chose to wear to school are all simple ways to increase word exposure for your child. This is called “thinking aloud” when we talk about what we are doing and why. The more words a child hears, the more words they will learn and use. Learning experiences should be engaging and fun to keep a young child’s interest.

 

To learn about the positive impact children and families experience due to MSU Extension programs, read our 2017 impact report: “Preparing young children for success” and “Preparing the future generation for success.” Additional impact reports, highlighting even more ways Michigan 4-H and MSU Extension positively impacted individuals and communities in 2017, can be downloaded from the Michigan 4-H website.

 

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Registration now open for the Michigan IDA Annual Spring Conference

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Technology and Literacy: The Ultimate Chicken and Egg Conundrum

 

By Heidi Turchan, SLD Read

Does your child continue to struggle in class specialized instruction and additional support? Are you overwhelmed with the choices of assistive technology? Have you ever had a bright student with unexpectedly poor reading, spelling and writing skills? Even though you thought your instruction was carefully planned, you somehow couldn’t reach that student.

For the past dozen years, educational technology has been the rage of schools across North America and abroad. It held great promise for students with reading and writing challenges, including dyslexia. However, too often this technology is nothing more than word-processing assignments, spell check, email and web searches — all of which require competent literacy skills to access.

Here’s the conundrum: no student can access these traditional technologies without competent reading, spelling and writing skills. Throughout this presentation, Elaine Cheesman will demonstrate instructional technology that is intuitive, research-based and focused on specific literacy skills. Dr. Cheesman offers solutions that can take students, teachers, tutors and clinicians beyond the conventional technologies to give them the technological keys to literacy success.

Dr. Elaine Chessman

Dr. Cheesman is an associate professor at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. She earned her Ph.D. at the University of Connecticut and credentials as a Certified Academic Language Therapist and Qualified Instructor at Teachers College, Columbia University, under the direction of Judith Birsh. Her primary research, teaching and service interests are teacher-preparation in scientifically based reading instruction and the use of technology in literacy education.

Dr. Cheesman received the Excellence in Teacher Educator Award from the Teacher Education Division of the Colorado Council for Exceptional Children, the Teacher of the Year and the Outstanding Researcher awards from the University of Colorado College Of Education. The reading courses she developed are among the first teacher preparation programs accredited by the International Dyslexia Association.
When: Saturday, April 8, 2017
Where: Washtenaw Community College, 4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor, Mich.

Register here.