Spring 2013
The Spring Season had a focus on early science concepts, inquiry, experiments and explorations. Evening meetings for parents were held at Milbridge Elementary School, co-hosted with Kindergarten teacher Suzen Polk-Hoffses explaining connections with what the children would be learning in Kindergarten. The children met in the Kindergarten room for stories and activities with an Americorps worker and volunteers. Families conducted science investigations at home, and helped their children use magnifiers, markers, photos and video to document their experiences, making digital books and drawings about the five senses and other topics that interested them.
A field trip to the DownEast Institute included a tour, hands-on experiences with sea creatures in the touch tank, and an opportunity to use microscopes. The final celebration took place at the Milbridge Library. Librarian Melissa Rapa-Smith joined in as children shared some of the stories and work they had created. Families enjoyed a tour of the library and various resources available, signed up for library cards as needed, and enjoyed snacks and a bubble blowing activity outdoors.
Fall 2013
The fall literacy focus on reading and early language development resulted in some additional program features. The creation of vocabulary lists of unit related words were used by families when doing activities with their children. After learning that research shows the frequency of use of a new word is important, on parent shared in her video reflection at the end of the unit: “It really works!” Families continued to enjoy the outdoor activities they were doing with their child.
Feedback from families inspired efforts to increase use of the town’s public library. Several families volunteered their time to find Spanish or bi-lingual picture books that had been mixed in with the general collection. With the help of the Milbridge librarian, these books, along with others donated to the library by Mano en Mano, were combined to create a new section making it easier to find and borrow books in Spanish. Evening meetings included discussion topics such as the Digital Media Diet–How to Use Media and Set Limits. Among others were conversations related to nutrition, exercise and other “healthy choices”, enriched by a visit from the local dentist, who talked with the families and also did activities related to dental health with the children.
- Unit 1 Activity Sheet: English or Spanish
- Unit 1 Word List: English and Spanish
- Unit 2 Activity Sheet: English or Spanish
- Unit 2 Word List: English and Spanish
- Unit 3 Activity Sheet: English or Spanish
- Unit 3 Word List: English and Spanish
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Background reading that significantly impacted program development in 2013:
Giving Our Children a Fighting Chance: Poverty, Literacy, and the Development of Information Capital by Susan B. Neuman, Donna C. Celano
All About Words: Increasing Vocabulary in the Common Core Classroom, Pre K-2 (Common Core State Standards in Literacy) (Common Core State Standards for Literacy) by Susan B. Neuman, Tanya S. Wright