THE LITERACY WORKSHOP RESOURCE RECOMMENDATIONS

Libraries are fantastic resources for children's literacy and offer a wide range of materials and programs. Pssst, here’s a little secret; they are a great resource for you too! Here are some common library resources for kids to take advantage of:

1. Books: Libraries have extensive collections of picture books, chapter books, storybooks, and a variety of other reading materials, including digital resources, tailored to all  different age groups and reading levels. Reading selections often include popular titles, classics, and diverse literature.

2. Story Time: Many libraries, including quite a few in our area, host regular storytime sessions where librarians or volunteers read aloud to children. These sessions are interactive and engaging, often incorporating songs, rhymes, and activities to promote early literacy skills. Sometimes, you can even find story time for older children, which is fantastic! Older kids still love being read to!!! 

3. Summer Reading Programs: Libraries frequently organize summer reading programs to encourage children to keep reading during their summer break. These programs often include reading challenges, incentives, and special events to motivate children to develop solid reading habits.

4. Homework Help: Libraries often provide resources and assistance for children's homework and school projects. They may offer reference materials, access to online databases, and knowledgeable staff who can help children find information and navigate their research. It’s a fact that many parents have to work, and of course there are only so many hours in the day. Libraries are there to help students succeed. Use them!

5. Digital Resources: I’d venture to say that most libraries today offer digital resources for kids, such as e-books, audiobooks, and educational apps. These resources can be accessed online through the library's website and are often available for borrowing or streaming. Talk about convenient!

6. Maker Spaces: Some libraries have maker spaces or creative learning areas where children can engage in hands-on activities, such as coding, robotics, crafts, and STEM projects. These spaces foster creativity, problem-solving skills, and exploration.  Here’s what these spaces really do for kiddos; they promote deeper engagement, and interaction with the learning content. They do indeed encourage problem solving skills, usually those requiring a higher order of thinking. Depending on their age, students not only begin developing networks of their peers, but also within the world of academia, and on a professional level. This is done by making connections with peers, academic and career mentors, along with learning institutions, and potential employers. What’s more, is that these spaces foster 21st century skills like collaboration and communication. Amazing! 

7. Children's Programs and Workshops: Libraries frequently host workshops, presentations, and educational programs specifically designed for kids. These programs cover various topics like science, art, storytelling, and cultural activities, providing opportunities for learning and enrichment beyond the pages. Check them out!

8. Literacy Events and Festivals: Libraries often organize literacy-themed events and festivals, such as author visits, book fairs, and writing contests. These events promote a love for reading and provide opportunities for children to interact with authors and fellow book enthusiasts. These events are so much fun! One time, we met The Fonz! Henry Winkler wrote a kids book, and we had the opportunity to meet him at the Arcadia Library at an author event. He’s a really cool guy!

When visiting your local library, it's a good idea to inquire about specific resources and programs available for children. Library staff can provide you with information on upcoming events, recommended reading lists, and other services tailored to children's needs. Alternatively, you can also access much of this information online. Most of the libraries in our area have calendars of branch happenings to take a peek at. 

Here are a few local libraries to visit:

Arcadia Library

The Arcadia Library is an awesome community resource with a variety of popular programs, and services to take advantage of. Swing by!

 https://www.arcadiaca.gov/enrich/arcadia_public_library/index.php

Temple City Library

The Temple City Library is part of the network of LA County Libraries, and is totally worth checking out! It‘s small, but has a lot to offer.

https://lacountylibrary.org/temple-city-library/

Monrovia Library

The Monrovia Library, like the others have online resources at your fingertips. They also have programs for all ages! See what’s going on!

https://www.cityofmonrovia.org/your-government/library/

Glendora Library

Glendora Library is on a mission to enrich their community by connecting people, especially kids, to a world of ideas, information, and imagination! 

https://www.cityofglendora.org/departments-services/library

Of course, these aren’t the only libraries out there. We here at The Literacy Workshop highly recommend stopping by your communities library to see what they have to offer your family! You can always use this site to locate your friendly neighborhood library here in California: https://www.library.ca.gov/branches/

Bookstores are wonderful places to discover and explore the wonderful world of books. Oftentimes, they try to create and immersive and engaging environment for young readers. Here are some popular kids bookstores that you might find in your area:

1. Barnes & Noble (www.barnesandnoble.com): Barnes & Noble is a well-known bookstore. I'm sure you've heard of it, if not visited one. Inside, you'll find a dedicated children's section for your kiddo to find their next adventure. They offer a vast selection of children's books, ranging from picture books to middle-grade and young adult novels. Some stores also host storytime sessions and other children's events. Any opportunity for a child to be read to is an awesome one! 

2. The Scholastic Store (scholastic.com) (https://shop.scholastic.com: The Scholastic Store is abookstore associated with the Scholastic publishing company. You remember school book fairs, right?! Scholastic features a comprehensive collection of books for children of all ages, including popular series and titles. The store often hosts author signings and special events. If you don't have a location near you, orders canvas always be placed online. Want to know a secret? Octavia's Bookshelf (octaviasbookshelf.com) carries quite a few scholastic books, along with others!

3. Independent Bookstores: Many independent bookstores, like Vroman's (vromansbookstore.com), have a designated children's section, and a few such as Children's Book World (www.childrensbookworld.com ) (https://www.childrensbookworld.com) in Los Angeles, specialize in children's literature. These bookstores often have a carefully curated selection of books, including diverse and unique titles. Be sure to check out their "bargain books." I've found some great books in that section. One of the greatest things about independent bookstores though is that they tend to host author events, book clubs, and story hours, among other really cool things!

5. Once Upon a Time (shoponceuponatime.com (https://www.shoponceuponatime.com): Once Upon a Time is a children's bookstore located here in the United States. We are lucky enough to one not terribly far away in Montrose! They focus on promoting literacy and offer a wide selection of books for children and young adults. The store regularly hosts author signings, storytimes, and workshops. They always have a ton of fabulous events. Be sure to check them out if you haven't already!

When visiting a kids bookstore, you can expect to find a diverse range of books, knowledgeable staff who can provide recommendations, a welcoming atmosphere that encourages children to explore and discover the joy of reading, and plenty of awesome happenings too promote literacy. Be sure to visit your local bookstore. They are a fantastic resource!

There are far too many excellent literacy resources available for kiddos to count that can help promote reading, writing, critical thinking and language skills. Here are some popular resources for you to check out: 

1. Reading Rockets (www.readingrockets.org): Reading Rockets offers a wealth of information, strategies, and activities to support children's literacy development. It includes video interviews with children's book authors, reading guides, and a collection of articles and research-based resources for both parents and educators alike. It is a really great place to learn, and find information in order to help your children succeed!

2. Starfall (www.starfall.com): Starfall is highly interactive, and is designed to teach children how to read. It provides engaging activities, games, and animated stories that cover letter recognition, phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension. Kids will have a lot of fun while they learn with this one.

3. Storyline Online (www.storylineonline.net): Here, famous actors read popular children’s books aloud. These videos can be a great way to engage children in storytelling and enhance their listening and comprehension skills. Plus, hearing more advanced readers will help kids build a more extensive vocabulary, with more accurate pronunciation.

4. International Children's Digital Library (www.childrenslibrary.org): This digital library offers free access to a wide range of children's books in different languages. Children can read the stories online, and it provides an excellent opportunity to explore diverse literature from various cultures. Not to mention that the International Children’s Digital Library has a really cool mission, which is to “promote tolerance and respect for diverse cultures by providing access to the best of children’s literature from around the world.

5. Oxford Owl (www.oxfordowl.co.uk): Oxford Owl provides a collection of free e-books for children of different ages. It also offers helpful guides for parents, including phonics activities, reading tips, and printable resources. Plus, they have a bookstore!

6. Reading Is Fundamental (www.rif.org): Reading Is Fundamental is a non-profit that promotes children's literacy. Their website provides resources for parents and educators, including a list of recommended books, hands-on activities, tips for reading aloud, literacy guides, along with other helpful resources to help kiddos become strong readers.

7. National Geographic Kids (www.kids.nationalgeographic.com): National Geographic Kids is an excellent, not only reading, but learning resource. They offer a plethora of fantastic nonfiction reading materials. It includes articles, videos, quizzes, and interactive games that cover a wide range of topics, sparking children's curiosity about the world around them, and at large. National Geographic for Kids is one of my favorites!

8. Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org): Khan Academy offers a variety of educational resources, including reading and language arts lessons, among other topics. It provides interactive exercises, video tutorials, and reading comprehension activities for different grade levels, offering a more personalized learning experience. 

Remember that the suitability of these resources may vary depending on your child's age, and reading level. It's always a good idea to explore and test different resources to find the ones that are appropriate for your child's interests and abilities. Each of these websites has something to offer. Be sure to check them out!

Reading resources are incredibly helpful for quite a few reasons. From language development, cognitive, and emotional development to knowledge acquisition, imagination and creativity, to bolstering concentration and focus, and developing language skills, reading resources are essential tools. They lay the foundation for a lifelong love of reading and learning, and they offer numerous benefits that extend far beyond the pages of a book.  Here are some reading resources for kids that you might find helpful:

1. Audiobooks: There are countless children's books available in various genres, in a spectacular selection of audiobooks for kids. While some are available for purchase, there are many that are free with either your library card, subscription, or again, free through some websites. They are definitely worth exploring various platforms to find the ones that best suit your child’s interests, and reading levels. Here are 12 go-tos when you’re on the hunt for audiobooks for your kiddo.

• Spotify (www.spotify.com)
• PBS (www.pbs.org) Check out their read-alongs
• Storynory (www.storynory.com)
• The Harper Kids (YouTube channel)
• LibriVox (www.librivox.org) It’s pretty cool that stories have been read by volunteers. You can even volunteer to read a story!
• OverDrive (www.overdrive.com) offers a library reading app called Libby which you can use to access audiobooks from your local libraries to listen to online.
• Loyal Books (www.loyalbooks.com) This site is home to a ton of free audiobooks for kids to listen to!
• Story Seeds (www.storyseedspodcast.com)
• Audible (www.audible.com)
• Sparkle Stories (www.sparklestories.com) Here you’ll find original audio content for children ages 3-9 years old. 
• Amazon (www.amazon.com or in app) Of course you’ll find many to purchase, however, there are also a lot of free audiobooks available. Just look for “kids audiobooks free.” Check it out!
• Barnes & Noble (www.barnesandnoble.com)

2. Online Platforms: Several online platforms offer digital reading materials for kids. Some popular options include Epic! (www.getepic.com), which provides access to a vast library of children's books, and Storyline Online (www.storylineonline.net), which features videos of famous actors reading children's books aloud. Check them out!

3. Children's Magazines: Magazines designed specifically for kids can spark their interest in reading. Examples include The Week Junior Magazine (www.theweekjunior.com), National Geographic Kids, Highlights, and Ranger Rick, which offer engaging articles, stories, and activities. These magazines are a great way to catch the reading bug, and the desire to both learn and read more! Take a look at www.discountmags.com to find a good deal on magazine subscriptions for your kiddo!

4. Literature Circles/Book Clubs: Joining a children's literature circle or book club can provide a sense of community and encourage reading. You can find a few online, however, there is something about coming together as a reading community that really sparks meaningful conversations, as well as interesting discussions on topics and subjects at hand. That’s what our literacy workshops are all about. Be sure to check us out!

5. Educational Websites: Websites like PBS Kids (www.pbskids.org) and Funbrain (www.funbrain.com) offer interactive reading activities, games, and stories that are both entertaining and educational. Win, win!

When selecting reading materials for kids, it's essential to consider their age, interests, and reading level. Encouraging them to choose books they find exciting and enjoyable will help foster a love of reading and improve their overall literacy skills. The format doesn’t matter so much as each child is more than likely a different type of learner. Encourage them no matter if they enjoy having a book in their hand, or prefer listening to a story being read to them. They will reap literacy benefits, no matter what!

Writing is such an important skill for children to develop for a number of reasons. Should they really invest the time into writing? Absolutely, and I’m going to share why I believe that it’s vital to their success.

Writing allows children the opportunity to express, or communicate, their thoughts, ideas, and feelings effectively with others. With this foundation, they will be able to transition into more complex forms of communication throughout their academic, and professional careers. 

Writing is interconnected with every facet of literacy, but perhaps none more so than reading. When children learn to write, they also develop their reading skills, and vice versa. Input and output. As kids read they are taking in the intricacies and nuances of language. Writing helps them to put what they are learning into action and solidify their understanding of language, to learn grammar, expand their vocabulary, and improve their spelling and punctuation. Yep, writing does all of that!

Through writing, children learn to express their opinions, support their claims with evidence, and evaluate different perspectives. How does writing do this you may ask. Well, writing encourages them to think critically as they work to organize their thoughts, which requires logic. In doing so, kids are pushed to analyze information, make connections, and develop stronger arguments, and with detail share their ideas. Yes, writing fosters all of that too!

It is an outlet for creativity and brings imagination to life. Writing allows stories to be created, with fascinating characters, and worlds full of wonders. This is a fantastic way for kids to activate their creative thinking skills. What’s more is that, not only does writing allow kids to create what is in their wildest imaginations, but it also helps them to explore their own identities, reflect on their own life experiences, and as a result develop a strong sense of self.

Did you know that writing helps kids to develop and put to use a very important skill set? It does. Problem solving skills, such as planning, organizing, and making revisions are important to that skill set. It is essential that children be able to structure their thoughts and ideas, sequence events, and be adept enough to revise and edit their work to ensure that it has clarity and coherence. Now, here’s the really cool part. These skills are transferable to other areas of life, helping kiddos to tackle challenges head on, and to actively find solutions. 

Writing provides children with the tools to express their emotions, thoughts, and experiences. Think of journaling! Oftentimes, it’s a therapeutic tool that is invaluable to processing, being aware of, and understanding their feelings. This also goes a long way to building self awareness, and increasing emotional intelligence, as well as serve as a means of reflection and growth. 

Proficient writing skills open the doors for academic success across a wide variety of subject matter. Think about it. Writing is a fundamental component of assignments from essays, to research papers, and even taking exams. Strong writing skills enable kids to both convey and demonstrate their knowledge, as well as to communicate their understanding of material that they have studied effectively.

Tying into the above, throughout their academic career, students are prepared for the professional world, where strong writing skills are highly valued. Regardless of their chosen field, being able to communicate effectively in writing is essential for success. 

I believe that developing these skills from an early age equips children with a valuable tool (writing) that will benefit them throughout their education, career, and life. Here are some resources for kids to help develop, improve, and enhance their writing skills:

1. Storybird (www.storybird.com): Storybird is an online platform that provides kids with various artwork collections. They can use the artwork as inspiration to write their own stories, poems, and comics.There is also lots, and lots of stunning artwork from adult illustrators available for kids that are members to use in their own books. Super cool! It's a fun and interactive way to encourage creative writing. Experiencing success and enjoying the writing process is what we all want for kids, right? Aside from good old pen and paper, the computer or tablet can be great tools to get children writing. This generation loves technology, you know! There are several websites where kids can become an author of their very own digital books. Storyjumper (www.storyjumper.com) is another really cool site! Not only can kids write and publish their own books, but they can read stories created by other young authors.

2. NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program (www.nanowrimo.org): NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) holds a young writers program specifically designed for students. It challenges kids to write a novel throughout the month of November. They provide resources, workbooks, and a supportive community to motivate young writers.

3. Young Writers Project (www.youngwritersproject.org): Young Writers Project is an online community that offers writing prompts and creative challenges for kids. They encourage kids to submit their work for publication, which can be a great way to showcase their writing talents.

4. Writing Prompt Websites: Websites like Writing Prompts (www.writingprompts.com) , Scholastic's Story Starters (www.scholastic.com/teachers/story-starters), and Kids Play and Create (www.kidsplayandcreate.com/writing-prompts-for-kids) offer a wide range of writing prompts specifically designed for children. These prompts can spark their imagination and provide ideas for writing stories, poems, or journal entries.

5. Writing Classes or Workshops like The Literacy Workshop: Local community centers, libraries, schools, and enrichment programs often organize writing workshops or classes for kids. These workshops provide instruction, guided writing exercises, collaborative learning,and give kids the opportunity to share and receive feedback on their writing as individual writers, and small group partnerships.

6. Writing Journals or Blogging: Encourage your child to keep a personal writing journal or start a blog where they can write about their thoughts, experiences, or stories. This helps foster a habit of writing regularly and gives them a platform to express themselves. 

Remember to provide encouragement, support, and constructive feedback to help your child develop their writing skills. Writing is a creative outlet and can be a wonderful way for kids to express themselves and explore their imagination, bringing to life what lies within. See, writing really is THAT important! 

Hey, Parents, Teachers, let me help you unlock the power of literacy with a few resources that will make your life just a little bit easier. Literacy is the foundation of education, empowering individuals to communicate effectively, think critically, and navigate the world around them. As parents and educators, we play a crucial role in nurturing and developing children's literacy skills. Fortunately, we live in an era where a wealth of resources are readily available to support us in this endeavor. Let’s explore some essential literacy resources that can benefit parents and teachers alike, that will help you promote a love of literacy within the hearts and minds of the kids in your life.

1. Libraries: A Gateway to Literacy—Public libraries are treasure troves of literacy resources. They offer an extensive collection of books, e-books, audiobooks, and educational materials suitable for all ages and reading levels. Libraries also organize storytelling sessions, author visits, and literacy programs, providing an enriching and interactive experience for children. Take them to the library regularly, and encourage your child to explore the diverse range of resources available with them.  If you aren’t sure where you’re local library is here in sunny California, you can locate one here https://www.library.ca.gov/branches/

2. Online Literacy Platforms and Websites—The digital age has brought forth a multitude of online platforms and websites dedicated to promoting literacy. Some notable resources include:

• Epic! (www.getepic.com): A digital library with thousands of books, audiobooks, and educational videos for children aged 12 and under.
• Reading Rockets (www.readingrockets.org): An excellent resource for parents and teachers, offering strategies, articles, and activities to promote literacy development.
• Storyline Online (www.storylineonline.net): Features popular children's books read aloud by celebrated actors, providing an engaging storytelling experience.
• Newsela (www.newsela.com): Offers a vast collection of nonfiction articles adapted for different reading levels, promoting information and critical thinking.
• Scholastic (www.scholastic.com): Provides a range of literacy resources, book recommendations, and teaching materials for parents and educators.

3. Literacy Apps and Educational Games—Harnessing the power of technology, literacy apps and educational games can make learning engaging and interactive. I’m sure there are many others, bu here are a few popular options include:

• ABCmouse: A comprehensive app for early literacy development, covering reading, writing, math, and more.
• Duolingo: Ideal for older children, this app offers gamified language learning experiences, fostering reading comprehension and vocabulary expansion.
• Starfall: A phonics-based app designed to help children build strong reading fundamentals through interactive games and activities.

4. Parent-Teacher Resources—Reading is so important because once a child learns to read, they read to learn. You know as well as I do that reading is a lifelong skill that you never really stop working on cultivating. Online resources are convenient, and make it a whole lot easier to give kids the tools that they need to learn. Whether you are seeking to enhance your traditional, homeschool, or charter/online school student’s literacy, there are resources available that will assist you in ensuring that your child has the reading skills that they need to succeed in school, and beyond. Here are just a few.

• ReadWorks (www.readworks.org) offers free resources for teachers and parents for reading instruction. We’re talking practice materials, worksheets, detailed program supplements for reading, spelling, sight words, grammar, phonics, comprehension, writing, and more, that can be for literacy enrichment. 
• Oxford Owl (www.oxfordowl.com) has an “Expert Help” tab in the website’s  reading portion which offers wonderful resources on helping struggling readers, encouraging reading in general, and workin on a variety of literacy goals such as phonics, grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc… There are even a lot of great games and activities available to enrich your child’s learning and literacy experience. 
• PBS Parents (www.pbs.org/parents) offers a wide variety of educational tools, activities, videos, read-alongs, and engaging games for kids ranging from ages about 2-8 years old, so really this is for those on the younger side. They will love seeing some of their favorite characters, and parents will appreciate how literacy is presented in a fun, enjoyable, and engaging way for their young learners.
• Reading Rockets (www.readingrockets.org) offers a ton of useful information pertaining to promoting literacy. Be sure to visit the “Helping Stuggling Readers'' page if you have a struggling reader on your hands. From this page, you’ll click “Target the problem!” to open a tool that defines a variety of difficulties that readers may face. Some of these difficulties include fluency and comprehension. In addition, it goes into detail about how kids, parents, and teachers can recognize the signs of such adversities. You’ll also find a link on the page which offers help in the form of tips that both children and the adults in their life can use to help work through the issue that is causing them to struggle, in an effort to overcome it.
• Read Write Think (www.readwritethink.org) offers resources for all grades K-12. There is a “Parent & Afterschool Resources” tab among many other resources. Be sure to visit the podcast section to find book reviews for different age groups. There are also several other links such as “Activities & Projects,” “Games & Tools,” “Tips & How-To’s,” and “Printouts” pages that I think you’ll find extremely useful. This website is sponsored by some of the big dogs, they are that good. Seriously, both The International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English have partnered with them. They know what they are talking about, and provide excellent resources. 
• Scholastic (www.scholastic.com) has been a resource for parents and teachers for over 100 years. They have successfully been an invaluable resource by continuously providing books, literary resources, and educational solutions. It truly is a one stop shop; everything you need in one place.

5. Parent-Teacher Collaboration and Communication—Effective collaboration between parents and teachers is key to promoting literacy for every child. Regular communication, such as parent-teacher conferences, newsletters, and connecting on digital platforms, helps keep parents informed about their child's progress and provides suggestions for supporting literacy development at home. It also creates a strong partnership between parents and teachers, ensuring a consistent approach to literacy instruction. With everyone on the same page, the child is sure to recognize everyone in their corner. Now, that’s a win!

Consider this: “The most powerful ways to develop children’s literacy skills are also the simplest: talk to them, listen to them, read to them, and write with them. When a caring adults talk to kids about the world–from how recipes work to the rules of baseball–they are planting seeds of knowledge that will help kids grow into curious thinkers, readers, and writers.”--PBS

Empowering children with strong literacy skills is a lifelong gift that opens doors to knowledge, imagination, and success. By utilizing the plethora of resources available, parents and teachers can create a rich and stimulating literacy environment that fosters a love for reading, critical thinking, and effective communication, which aligns with our goal here at The Literacy Workshop to help kiddos become more avid readers, stronger writers, and deeper thinkers. And remember, the best way to achieve this is almost always through the simplest methods. Why? Because they show that you truly care.