VISION To have every child in the community of Condobolin, between the ages of 0-5 years, enjoy being read, spoken and sung to EVERYDAY.
RATIONALE
‘Every word you say and read to your baby creates a brain connection that results in your baby’s brain growth. Think of your words as baby brain food. Every time you read and reread a book, your baby’s brain is absorbing information that will form his life-long literacy foundation. .. This is why reading aloud to your baby is the best investment you can make in your child’s education’ Blakemore, C & Ramirez, B (2006) Baby Read-Aloud Basics, New York: AMACOM p3)
Research supports the belief that early language interaction between carer and child stimulates brain development and encourages positive relationships, which leads to literacy achievement and success in later life. Born to Read Condobolin Committee encourages parents and carers of the Condobolin community to create a language rich environment for children from 0-5 years, by increasing their exposure to books and spoken language, to improve their children’s literacy learning at school and beyond.
COMMITTEE
The Born to Read Condobolin Committee is a non-profit organisation made up of representatives from Condobolin Public School, St Josephs Primary School, MET Condobolin Campus, Condobolin Preschool and Childcare Centre, TAFE NSW Condobolin College, Condobolin Health Service, Lachlan Shire Library, Condobolin Quota Club, Lachlan Children’s Services and community volunteers. The Committee meets on the second Tuesday of every month in school terms at the Lachlan Shire Library, 130 Bathurst Street. All welcome.
TARGETS
1. To promote the benefits of reading, listening and talking to children in the Condobolin community.
2. To engage parents/carers and children in the Born to Read project.
3. To develop an ongoing culture of reading, talking and listening to 0-5 year olds.
OUTCOMES
a) More Condobolin children will learn to read and enjoy reading.
b) Closer bonding between more parents, carers and children.
c) A raised awareness in the entire community of the importance of reading to children as a vital part of their literacy development.
d) The community, as a whole, to value language, literacy and learning.
e) The prevention of language deficiency.
f) To close the gap in literacy levels between indigenous and non-indigenous children in the Condobolin community, to enable all children in this community to have the opportunity to reach their potential at school and beyond.
g) To provide free, culturally inclusive children’s books to all children aged 0-4 in the wider Condobolin community.
h) To support the development of Born to Read Committees in other towns and communities within the Lachlan Shire.
STRATEGIES
Every parent/carer of a newborn child to be given a Born to Read free package after the birth of the baby by the Condobolin Health Service Child and Family Health nurse. This will include:
· A Born to Read ‘Congratulations/Help them on their way’ booklet which gives simple steps on how to talk, read and sing to a child from birth
· A good quality children’s picture book
· A Born to Read brochure explaining the aims and work of Born to Read Condobolin Committee
· A ‘Never too Young to Read’ brochure, published by the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA),which includes practical strategies for parents/carers on how, when and what to read with young children
· A ‘How to Read to Your Baby’ postcard-size fridge magnet, published by the ALEA and summarising practical reading strategies for parents/carers to use when reading to babies
· A brochure from Lachlan Shire Library, Condobolin giving library opening times and details of ‘Story time’ sessions.
· A Lachlan Shire Library membership form.
At the initial visit with the Child and Family Health nurse the parent/carer will be given the opportunity to join their baby to the Born to Read Joey Reader Club.
Joey Reader Club membership entitles children aged 0-5 to receive:
· Invitations to Born to Read special events including the annual reading day party in September
· On 1st Birthday - A free good quality children’s book and Born to Read Birthday card with Born to Read ‘1’ bookmark, a flyer providing times and dates of ‘Story time’ sessions at Lachlan Shire Library
· On 2nd Birthday - A free good quality children’s book and Born to Read Birthday card with Born to Read ‘2’ bookmark, a flyer providing times and dates of ‘Story time’ sessions at Lachlan Shire Library
· On 3rd Birthday - A free good quality children’s book and Born to Read Birthday card with Born to Read ‘3’ bookmark, a flyer providing times and dates of ‘Story time’ sessions at Lachlan Shire Library
· On 4th Birthday - A free good quality children’s book and Born to Read Birthday card with Born to Read ‘4’ bookmark, a flyer providing times and dates of ‘Story time’ sessions at Lachlan Shire Library
On 5th Birthday - A free good quality children’s book and Born to Read Birthday card with Born to Read ‘5’ bookmark, a flyer providing times and dates of ‘Story time’ sessions at Lachlan Shire Library
An annual promotional reading day event, starting in 2004 with the Official Launch.
Each child 0-8 attending our annual reading day event to receive a free Born to Read show bag containing a good quality children’s book, Born to Read fridge magnet and balloon, Born to Read promotional item eg hat, drink bottle, nursery rhyme colouring booklet, and related craft activities
Preschool and Primary School Ready Roo Read-a-Thon to be run annually, prior to annual reading day event
Articles/photographs in local newspapers and school newsletters promoting the Born to Read project and annual reading day event
Born to Read large ‘Have you read to a child today?’ banner displayed in prominent places in town prior to reading day event
Born to Read alphabet and number banners in local shop windows to promote our annual reading day event and project
Window display in ‘Leading Appliances’ to promote our annual reading day event and project
Collecting second-hand books for re-distribution to those with limited access to children’s books
Born to Read book prizes to be presented at local primary school prize nights and donation of books to Condobolin Preschool and Childcare Centre for children’s library
Series of pamphlets/posters displayed at medical centres, hospital waiting rooms etc, targeting parents/carers of babies and preschoolers
Sale of Born to Read ABC and 123 books at Condobolin Community Centre, Lachlan Agencies, Lachlan Shire Library, local schools and TAFE
Sale of Born to Read ABC and 123 books, library bags, bookmarks, drink bottles, hats etc at annual reading day event
Born to Read/TAFE ‘Reading with Children’ workshops for parents/carers and school teacher’s assistants, when funding available
Representation on Condobolin Interagency committee
Support the establishment of other Born to Read committees in Shire and beyond
The development of a Born to Read web-site to provide information about Born to Read’s local activities and links to sites affiliated with Born to Read as well as those which provide further information about improving children’s literacy levels through reading.
RATIONALE
‘Every word you say and read to your baby creates a brain connection that results in your baby’s brain growth. Think of your words as baby brain food. Every time you read and reread a book, your baby’s brain is absorbing information that will form his life-long literacy foundation. .. This is why reading aloud to your baby is the best investment you can make in your child’s education’ Blakemore, C & Ramirez, B (2006) Baby Read-Aloud Basics, New York: AMACOM p3)
Research supports the belief that early language interaction between carer and child stimulates brain development and encourages positive relationships, which leads to literacy achievement and success in later life. Born to Read Condobolin Committee encourages parents and carers of the Condobolin community to create a language rich environment for children from 0-5 years, by increasing their exposure to books and spoken language, to improve their children’s literacy learning at school and beyond.
COMMITTEE
The Born to Read Condobolin Committee is a non-profit organisation made up of representatives from Condobolin Public School, St Josephs Primary School, MET Condobolin Campus, Condobolin Preschool and Childcare Centre, TAFE NSW Condobolin College, Condobolin Health Service, Lachlan Shire Library, Condobolin Quota Club, Lachlan Children’s Services and community volunteers. The Committee meets on the second Tuesday of every month in school terms at the Lachlan Shire Library, 130 Bathurst Street. All welcome.
TARGETS
1. To promote the benefits of reading, listening and talking to children in the Condobolin community.
2. To engage parents/carers and children in the Born to Read project.
3. To develop an ongoing culture of reading, talking and listening to 0-5 year olds.
OUTCOMES
a) More Condobolin children will learn to read and enjoy reading.
b) Closer bonding between more parents, carers and children.
c) A raised awareness in the entire community of the importance of reading to children as a vital part of their literacy development.
d) The community, as a whole, to value language, literacy and learning.
e) The prevention of language deficiency.
f) To close the gap in literacy levels between indigenous and non-indigenous children in the Condobolin community, to enable all children in this community to have the opportunity to reach their potential at school and beyond.
g) To provide free, culturally inclusive children’s books to all children aged 0-4 in the wider Condobolin community.
h) To support the development of Born to Read Committees in other towns and communities within the Lachlan Shire.
STRATEGIES
Every parent/carer of a newborn child to be given a Born to Read free package after the birth of the baby by the Condobolin Health Service Child and Family Health nurse. This will include:
· A Born to Read ‘Congratulations/Help them on their way’ booklet which gives simple steps on how to talk, read and sing to a child from birth
· A good quality children’s picture book
· A Born to Read brochure explaining the aims and work of Born to Read Condobolin Committee
· A ‘Never too Young to Read’ brochure, published by the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA),which includes practical strategies for parents/carers on how, when and what to read with young children
· A ‘How to Read to Your Baby’ postcard-size fridge magnet, published by the ALEA and summarising practical reading strategies for parents/carers to use when reading to babies
· A brochure from Lachlan Shire Library, Condobolin giving library opening times and details of ‘Story time’ sessions.
· A Lachlan Shire Library membership form.
At the initial visit with the Child and Family Health nurse the parent/carer will be given the opportunity to join their baby to the Born to Read Joey Reader Club.
Joey Reader Club membership entitles children aged 0-5 to receive:
· Invitations to Born to Read special events including the annual reading day party in September
· On 1st Birthday - A free good quality children’s book and Born to Read Birthday card with Born to Read ‘1’ bookmark, a flyer providing times and dates of ‘Story time’ sessions at Lachlan Shire Library
· On 2nd Birthday - A free good quality children’s book and Born to Read Birthday card with Born to Read ‘2’ bookmark, a flyer providing times and dates of ‘Story time’ sessions at Lachlan Shire Library
· On 3rd Birthday - A free good quality children’s book and Born to Read Birthday card with Born to Read ‘3’ bookmark, a flyer providing times and dates of ‘Story time’ sessions at Lachlan Shire Library
· On 4th Birthday - A free good quality children’s book and Born to Read Birthday card with Born to Read ‘4’ bookmark, a flyer providing times and dates of ‘Story time’ sessions at Lachlan Shire Library
On 5th Birthday - A free good quality children’s book and Born to Read Birthday card with Born to Read ‘5’ bookmark, a flyer providing times and dates of ‘Story time’ sessions at Lachlan Shire Library
An annual promotional reading day event, starting in 2004 with the Official Launch.
Each child 0-8 attending our annual reading day event to receive a free Born to Read show bag containing a good quality children’s book, Born to Read fridge magnet and balloon, Born to Read promotional item eg hat, drink bottle, nursery rhyme colouring booklet, and related craft activities
Preschool and Primary School Ready Roo Read-a-Thon to be run annually, prior to annual reading day event
Articles/photographs in local newspapers and school newsletters promoting the Born to Read project and annual reading day event
Born to Read large ‘Have you read to a child today?’ banner displayed in prominent places in town prior to reading day event
Born to Read alphabet and number banners in local shop windows to promote our annual reading day event and project
Window display in ‘Leading Appliances’ to promote our annual reading day event and project
Collecting second-hand books for re-distribution to those with limited access to children’s books
Born to Read book prizes to be presented at local primary school prize nights and donation of books to Condobolin Preschool and Childcare Centre for children’s library
Series of pamphlets/posters displayed at medical centres, hospital waiting rooms etc, targeting parents/carers of babies and preschoolers
Sale of Born to Read ABC and 123 books at Condobolin Community Centre, Lachlan Agencies, Lachlan Shire Library, local schools and TAFE
Sale of Born to Read ABC and 123 books, library bags, bookmarks, drink bottles, hats etc at annual reading day event
Born to Read/TAFE ‘Reading with Children’ workshops for parents/carers and school teacher’s assistants, when funding available
Representation on Condobolin Interagency committee
Support the establishment of other Born to Read committees in Shire and beyond
The development of a Born to Read web-site to provide information about Born to Read’s local activities and links to sites affiliated with Born to Read as well as those which provide further information about improving children’s literacy levels through reading.
