Little Read Wagon: Reading from the Heart
San Antonio Public Library, Texas
Innovation Synopsis
"Reading from the Heart" is a free training that connects childcare providers with library resources for their classrooms, gives them an opportunity to network with other professionals and includes the creation of a tool or activity that can immediately be put to use when they return to work.
Challenge/Opportunity
San Antonio Public Library focuses on supporting educational and learning opportunities for the community. The library supports literacy and economic and workforce development by offering free training for early childhood teachers. Providing these free training opportunities helps ensure stable employment for participants and the availability of quality early childhood environments for the youth of San Antonio. Access to quality early childhood programs also supports parents in advancing their own careers or education.
Key Elements of Innovation
Staff reviewed recent research and classic resources, compiled a list of read-aloud titles and developed “Reading from the Heart,” a three-hour training that includes an overview of the five early literacy practices of the ALA’s Every Child Ready to Read initiative, tips for selecting and sharing read-aloud books, ideas for extending stories into other areas of the classroom and a discussion of home literacy and ways to integrate the home experiences of young children.
Achieved Outcomes
In 2017, 230 people have attended the training, impacting 3,569 children. Classroom teachers and family home care providers, parents, grandparents, librarians and parent educators have attended. Each has completed a list of books to share in their classrooms, made a sample home-made book, received a new board book, handouts of read-aloud tips and access to free online resources. "Little Read Wagon" issued certificates for a total of 690 clock hours of training.
