Elena Baeza's Asset-based Community Development MOU Page

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A.E. Learning Project 

 

Partners:

 

Goals  

1. A.E. Learning Project’s first goal is to educate the program’s adult participants in building reading skills, the importance of effective playtime and searching online literacy resources, so they may become reading advocates with their children and confident researching the internet. Participants for the program will be recruited before the program begins. The target group are economically disadvantaged families.

2. The second goal is to better prepare 3-4 year old children for pre-K by introducing computerized literacy games, storytime presentations and effective reading skills to them.

 

Objectives

Objectives for Goal #1:

Increase participants’ understanding on how to use the internet effectively to research online literacy tools in a one month time period.

Improve literacy rates among the participants by increasing family time reading at home in a one month time period.

Have participants complete the toy making class sessions in a one month time period. Toy making sessions teach parents how to play with their children effectively.

Objectives for Goal #2:

Teach children the Time 4 Learning Preschool program and have them pass all levels in a one month time period.

Expose children to the concept of Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR), where storytime presentations will be done during the month long program.

  

ALSC Competencies Baeza_MOU_Competencies.docx

 

Evidence-based Practice

Frank, Cheryl. 2001. "The Influence of Parent Awareness of Successful Reading Strategies and the Impact on Children's Reading Behavior and Attitude." n.p.: 2001. ERIC, EBSCOhost (accessed November 26, 2014).

 

Cheryl Frank’s study asks whether reading strategy parent workshops would have a positive influence on small children. The study also asked whether or not reading workshop strategies would improve attitudes towards reading at home. Fourteen parents whose children reading level was below average, were recruited for the study. Parents were asked to answer a survey before and after attending the workshop. The workshops presented taught parents various children reading strategies to do at home. The study found that parents learned about different strategies and had more knowledge about family reading than before the study was conducted. Frank (2001) reports that children learn more if parents are involved with their learning (8). Parent workshops are beneficial not only for the parent but the child as well.

 

Sandberg, Annette. 2002. “Preschool teacher's conceptions of computers and play.” 245+: Information Technology in Childhood Education, Annual. General One File (accessed November 26, 2014). 

 

 “Preschool teacher’s conceptions of computers and play” by Annette Sandberg states that children learn by playing on computers. The use of computers during playtime teaches valuable skills such as reading comprehension and word recognition. Sandberg’s research demonstrates that preschool teachers believe in using technology to teach and learn. Data was collected by interviewing Swedish preschool instructors from various schools. The study determined that teachers believe in using computers to learn while children play. Teachers stated that computers are great learning tools and contribute to a child’s development. One teacher stated how children with speech deficiencies used certain computer programs and learned to properly pronounce individual words (Sandberg 2002, 253).

 

Measures for Success 

Data for Objectives for Goal #1: The data from the objectives for the first goal will be measured using observation, a survey and a take home log. Objective one is to increase participants understanding on how to use the internet effectively, this data will be collected by doing observational studies, and having participants fill out a quiz like survey every two weeks. Data will be evaluated during evaluation day and workshops will be tweaked depending on the information. The second objective seeks to improve literacy by increasing family reading times at home. Questionnaires and reading logs will be given to parents to fill out every week regarding their home reading habits. The information collected for the second objective will be used to better assist families in literacy in the future. The last objective states participants will have to complete the Toy Making class. Data collected from the class will include observation, a questionnaire and a certificate of completion. Data collected for the last objective will assist Avance to make improvements for future families attending the classes.

 

Data for Objectives for Goal #2: The second goal is to prepare children for pre-K by familiarizing them with computer literacy games and teaching them literacy skills. The first objective states that children will complete several levels of the literacy computerized program. Data will be gathered as children pass each level. Information gathered will help the A.E. Learning Project team evaluate children’s reading strengths and weaknesses. The second objective is to have children participate in the storytime programs in a one month time period. Children will be observed and tested on their word recognition skills, communication skills and reading comprehension development. Data will be collected by testing children before the program starts and after the program ends. EAM librarians are interested in this information to help improve storytime presentations and to see whether or not they are effective.

 

Benefits 

Benefits for the non-profit agency: Avance will benefit in several ways. First, their programs and services will be advertised at the EAM library. Funding for Avance depends on the number of participants who register with their program. So increasing their visibility within the community will help the agency. Second, the agency will learn about literacy and how to use storytime presentations effectively. Currently Avance has a toy making class that assists parents with teaching their children valuable learning skills. Avance would like to implement professional library storytime into their program so their young participants can learn more about literacy. A weekly storytime time session is being worked on between Avance and EAM that will start after the A.E. Learning Project is over. Last, Avance will gain a community partner where both the library and Avance can continue to work together on future projects like Día de los Niños or National Library Week.

 

Benefits for the library: The library will also gain an important ally where both entities can work together for future programs. Library services and programs will also be advertised at the Avance center. The EAM library is very interested in recruiting new library patrons from Avance. Another benefit for the library is the assistance they will receive in helping patrons be independent internet literacy researchers, where parents can search for free online tools to help their children be better readers. Another benefit is the data collected from the storytime program. EAM is interested in knowing whether or not their storytime presentations are being done effectively. 

 

Benefits for the community: The community will benefit the most because of the combination of programs and services both entities are providing. The A.E. Learning Project month long program will teach the participants certain skills that they might not be exposed to anywhere else. Parents will learn literacy parenting abilities, web research skills and how to play with children effectively. Children will learn computer literacy skills, have proper storytime presentations and be better prepared for school.

 

Responsibilities of the Partners

Non-profit Agency Responsibilities: Avance will be responsible for writing the grant request from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, registration of participants, maintaining the website, blog and social network sites. Avance will also work with the nearby high school to secure two classrooms where workshops and trainings may be held.

 

Library Responsibilities: EAM library will be responsible for program scheduling, advertising and marketing, and disbursement of monies for certain services. The EAM library will also be in charge of setting up orientation day and the closing day events. Last, EAM will work with the El Paso Police Department to set up background checks and first aid classes for all volunteers working with children.

 

Shared Responsibilities: Both the library and Avance will share the responsibility of presenting the programs, collecting data and writing community reports. Volunteers from both entities will work with the coordinators of both entities to assist during the month long program. Volunteers will be essential during registration, opening day and closing day events. The volunteers have also agreed to take care of the children while parents are attending their sessions. Most adult and children workshop sessions will run concurrently, however sometimes children will end their programming early and in order to continue to provide a safe and nurturing environment, volunteers have been asked to look after the children. Volunteers working with children must have a background check and a first aid certificate. The background check and the first aid certificate will be done free of charge courtesy of the El Paso Police department.

 

Budget       

Budget Detail: Below is a detailed expense report for the A.E. Learning Project. Both entities have decided to have a separate A.E. Learning Project account and budget from EAM library and Avance. Both entities believe this will be an easier way to manage the monies that will be used for the project. EAM librarians and Avance staff have agreed to teach all work-shops during the month long program. Volunteers from both entities have also been recruited to assist with registration, orientation day and the closing event. All workshops and trainings will be held at the EAM library multipurpose room and the EAM computer classroom or at the nearby high school called El Dorado. El Dorado has agreed to loan the program two portable classrooms for the month long project. The portable classrooms are equipped with computers and internet connections. The A.E. Learning Project team secured the portables since El Dorado is already an Avance learning site. Avance and the high school work together on yearlong programs for adults and teenagers.

 

Source(s) of Funding: The main source of funding comes from a grant donation provided by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. Avance has received grants from the Dollar store chain before and therefore felt comfortable writing a request for funding for the A.E. Learning Project. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation granted the program an award for the amount of $3,000. EAM friends of the library group has generously donated $300 with the understanding that if any money is left over it would be donated back to the friends group to support future library programming. Both EAM and Avance have agreed to use $100 each out of their discretionary fund budgets.

 

Time

Project Timeline:

Registration period: May 18 – June 5, 2015, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Program orientation: June 15, 2015, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Program schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays, June 16 – July 16, 2015, 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Last day of program: July 17, 2015, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Evaluation Points:

Evaluations will take place on Thursdays on the following dates: June 25, July 2 and July 16, 2015.

 

Ending the Partnership

Deal breaker(s): The partnership A.E. Learning Project will come to an end on Friday July 17, 2015. The event closing will be held at the EAM library. Both Avance and EAM agree that all data will be distributed to both entities. Equipment, documents, banners, flyers, handouts, pictures and all other material and tools purchased with A.E. Learning Project monies will be divided among both EAM and Avance. Money left over will be returned to the EAM friends of the library organization. A small committee will be formed at the end of the program consisting of EAM and Avance staff to make all final decisions regarding the information above.

 

Bless and release (exit strategy): A closing event will be held where the Mayor of El Paso will be the guest speaker. A dinner will be provided to all participants, guests and A.E. Learning Project staff and volunteers. Both EAM and Avance agree to work together in the future to support family literacy. 

 

Reflection on Capstone Project, Stage 3

SLO 1 and SLO 2

Student Learning Outcome 1 states to connect classroom theory to real world experiences. My capstone project reflection stage 3 project assists me in connecting what I have learned in the classroom to what I am learning in the real world. I have successfully communicated with the EAM library and Avance and have created a project that is possible for both organizations to work on together. The stage 3 project asks for several things that I believe make a strong connection between classroom theory and real life experience. First, are the set of goals and objectives which are required for any project or program to move forward? The second thing is making sure that the collaborated program fit well with the ALSC public library competencies. Competencies provide us with directions, objectives and assists us when making decisions. Competencies also demonstrate to the community that programs offered by libraries or agencies, in this case, are worthwhile attending. Third are the responsibilities of the project I am putting together. In any joint effort, responsibilities have to be delegated and at the same time shared by both organizations. Last is the budget that I worked on with the information, knowledge and experience I gained by communicating with Avance and my mentor. Putting expenses, incomes and a summary together was a fulfilling accomplishment. I never knew how much detailed planning went into putting together any kind of an event. The budget process part of my assignment has allowed me to gain some real world experience in this area.  

 

The skills and knowledge I have obtained in this assignment are priceless and relate well with the second SLO. My final report asked me to finally bring in the agency with my library to create a project together. While working on this project I kept thinking of other ideas and possible projects that a library can do with other agencies. I also thought about budgets and the importance of having some knowledge in this area for future library programming.

 

 

References

 

Association for Library Service for Children. 2009.  "Competencies for Librarians Serving

Children in Public Libraries.” Accessed November 25, 2014. http://www.ala.org/alsc/edcareeers/alsccorecomps     

 

Frank, Cheryl. 2001. "The Influence of Parent Awareness of Successful Reading Strategies and the Impact on Children's Reading Behavior and Attitude." n.p.: 2001. ERIC, EBSCOhost (accessed November 26, 2014).

 

Literacy Matters Logo created at Tagxedo.com 

 

Pixabay. 2014. Partnership."  http://pixabay.com/en/family-community-patchwork-76781/ (Accessed December 10, 2014).

 

 “Preschool lesson Plans.” Time 4 Learning.com. Last modified 2014.

http://www.time4learning.com/scope-sequence/preschool.shtml 

 

Sandberg, Annette. 2002. “Preschool teacher's conceptions of computers and play.” 245+: Information Technology in Childhood Education, Annual. General One File (accessed November 26, 2014).

 

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