welcome, volunteer coordinator! - sesame street · · 2017-06-30welcome, volunteer coordinator!...

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Partner in Literacy

Welcome, Volunteer Coordinator!Thank you for participating in Every Day is a Reading and Writing Day! This is a multimedia program that excites and motivates children ages 2–5 to take their fi rst steps toward reading and writing.

The journey toward becoming a reader and writer begins long before children can actually read or write words on a page. It starts the moment they are born, listening to the sounds, songs, and stories from those who love and care for them.

Your efforts will encourage families to bond and make the most of everyday opportunities to talk, read, and write together.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR GUIDESESAMESTREET.ORG/LITERACY

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Getting StartedInformation to help you organize your event, manage volunteers, and spread the word about this initiative

Getting Ready for Your Event ....................................................3Planning Your Activities .............................................................4Incorporating into Other Volunteer Projects ............................5 Tips for Managing Volunteers ..................................................6

Information for Volunteers Materials to help volunteers prepare for engaging with young children

Tips for Working with Children ................................................. 7 Talking, Reading, and Writing Milestones ...............................8

Children’s ActivitiesFun and age-appropriate literacy activities for volunteers to share with children

Talking TogetherOur Healthy Day Conversation Cards......................................9 Sesame Street Puppet Show! ................................................. 10

Reading Together Read-Aloud Story: “Getting to Know You!” ............................. 11 Read-Aloud Story: “Elmo and Abby’s Fairy Tale Adventure” .....12

Writing Together My Very Own Book .................................................................. 13 Just for You! Cards .................................................................. 14

Family HandoutsReproducible sheets to share with children and families so they can continue learning at home

Silly Friends! Mini Poster ......................................................... 15 Family Tip Sheet ....................................................................... 16Around-the-House Labels ...................................................... 17

Helpful HandoutsVolunteers Needed! Flier ........................................................ 18You’re Invited! Flier .................................................................. 19Sesame Street Certifi cate of Participation ..............................20 Sesame Street Volunteer Appreciation Certifi cate ................ 21Name Tags ..............................................................................22

In addition to this guide, you will fi nd other materials from the initiative available online at sesamestreet.org/literacy, including:

» Sesame Street video segments » online literacy games » a Parent/Caregiver Guide » Literacy Tips for Children Ages 0–2

Looking for some tips on how to talk, read, and write with children while on the go? Visit sesamestreet.org/literacy on your smartphone or tablet device!

Contents

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Once You’ve Chosen Your Activities: » photocopy or download and print the activity sheets.

» make copies of the blank name tags on page 22.

» gather any supplies you may need.

» connect to the Sesame Street video clips at sesamestreet.org/literacy to play at your event.

Set Up Your Space: » create an open space where children can sit together.

» use the Around-the-House Labels template on page 17 to make written labels for different objects such as the “table” and “chair.”

» play the video clip of the “Every Day Is a Reading and Writing Day” song on continuous loop at sesamestreet.org/literacy.

Key Messages to Share with Families:

* Parents play a key role in helping children become readers and writers.

* It’s never too early to talk, read, and write with children.

* Talking, reading, and writing can happen anytime and anywhere throughout the day.

* Talking together and having rich conversations build the foundation for reading and writing.

Getting Ready for Your EventYou’ll fi nd many fun activities that volunteers can enjoy doing with children ages 2–5 and families, along with examples of ways to adapt them for various types of events.

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Small Event:Encourage a few volunteers to lead activities inside a small preschool classroom, library, or community center.

» Read “Elmo and Abby’s Fairy Tale Adventure” aloud. Then encourage children to create their own fairy tale adventure using the “Make Your Own Book” activity sheet and/or act out a fairy tale story using the “Sesame Street Finger Puppets.”

Large Special Event:Set up multiple activity stations for children to visit, and assign each a theme: Talking, Reading, or Writing. Each station should ideally have one volunteer for 3 to 4 children.

» At the Talking table, volunteers can use “Our Healthy Day Conversation” cards, encouraging children to take turns picking a card and answering the questions. At the Reading table, a volunteer can read the “Getting to Know You!” story aloud. At the Writing table, children can use the “Just for You!” activity to decorate a card.

» At one of your stations, you might play the “Every Day is a Reading and Writing Day” song on a continuous loop at sesamestreet.org/literacy.

Community Event:This could be a local community gathering, a book fair at a library, or volunteer event at a local food pantry. Please see page 5 for more ideas.

» Set up a table or booth and provide activities from each of the three categories – Talking, Reading, and Writing. Allow children to choose an activity they would like to enjoy.

» Provide a copy of the “Silly Friends Mini Poster” to give families a fun opportunity to talk, read, and write.

Event Lasting Multiple Days:Give each day a theme around the key areas of this initiative and prepare the corresponding activities that match the theme for the day.

» The fi rst day could be called be “Talking Together,” followed by “Reading Together,” then “Writing Together.”

Planning Your ActivitiesBelow are various examples of ways to structure the activities based on the size, scope, and frequency of your event.

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Serving at a Food Bank, Pantry, or Soup Kitchen: As volunteers sort and gather foods, they can insert in each food box that will delivered to families a copy of the Family Tip Sheet on page 16 and a few activity sheets. Using Our Healthy Day Conversation Cards on page 9 might be a good idea for this type of project. If you are serving meals to families, you might hand out the Family Tip Sheet.

Collection Drives:Food, clothing, toys, or school supplies that are collected usually go to families with children or to those who know parents of young children. Check to see if organizations may want to supplement these supplies with the Parent/Caregiver Guide. You might even ask some volunteers to assemble an Every Day is a Reading and Writing Day kit containing information for parents, several activity sheets, and a pack of crayons to share with local organizations serving young children.

Building, Renovation, and Beautification Projects:Families are usually curious and drawn to events in which they see volunteers improving their communities. While volunteers build, paint, or garden, a few of them can be encouraged to distribute materials or conduct activities with children in the neighborhood. For example, children can create a book about their neighborhood using the My Very Own Book activity sheet on page 13.

Reading to Children:In addition to reading books, volunteers can enjoy engaging young children in two fun and interactive Sesame Street Read-Aloud stories on pages 11 and 12 of this guide.

Career Day:Volunteers speaking at a Career Day can share the My Very Own Book activity on page 13, and have children create a book about what they want to be when they grow up.

Incorporating into Other Volunteer ProjectsVolunteers can help spread the word about Every Day is a Reading and Writing Day! Start by connecting with the leaders of local organizations, and together brainstorm creative ways to incorporate the event into other projects. Try some of these ideas:

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Information to Help You Manage Your Volunteers: » Planning: To ensure that the event runs smoothly,

at least one person should be in charge of managing volunteers and coordinating their efforts.

» Recruiting: Build excitement by letting people know that there is an opportunity to volunteer for a new Sesame Street program. Use the customizable fl yer on page 18 to spread the word and provide information on how to sign up. You might also recruit volunteers through social media, group meetings, and newsletters.

» Communicating: Prior to your event, let your volunteers know about the location, date, and time of the event. If volunteers will be working directly with young children, help prepare them by asking them to review the Tips for Working with Children sheet on page 7 and the Talking, Reading, and Writing Milestones chart on page 8.

» Recognizing and Thanking: The Volunteer Appreciation Certifi cate on page 21 is designed to thank volunteers for contributing their time and efforts. Making them feel appreciated is a key to helping them feel valued and to motivating them to continue volunteering.

Volunteer Roles Be clear about letting them know their roles and responsibilities. Some volunteer tasks can include:

* setting up the space and organizing materials,

* greeting children and helping them fi ll out their name tags,

* leading an icebreaker activity with children,

* doing hands-on activities with children, and

* distributing handouts to parents and directing them to the project website for more information and resources.

Tips for Managing VolunteersEvery Day is a Reading and Writing Day volunteers play a key role in delivering much-needed resources to communities and making a positive impact!

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INFORMATION FOR VOLUNTEERSSESAMESTREET.ORG/LITERACY

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Before the Event: » Take some time to look over the

activities.

» Make sure you have all the materials you’ll need for the activities you’ll do with children.

During the Event: » Greet each child by name at eye

level and with a friendly smile. Help them fi ll out a Sesame Street name tag.

» Start with a short icebreaker activity such as singing the ABC song or asking each child to name a favorite Sesame Street friend.

» As you do the activities together, show your joy for talking, reading, and writing. The more enthusiasm you show, the more excited children will be!

» Be positive and encouraging. Praise children’s efforts by providing specifi c feedback such as, “I love all the colors you’re using!”

As Families Leave: » Thank them for coming and

reinforce some of the key messages. You might say, “Thank you so much for coming! Remember to make every day a reading and writing day!”

» Distribute the family handouts to parents. Remind them to keep learning by visiting sesamestreet.org/literacy to access free videos, games, and activities.

Tips for Working with ChildrenYour time and effort will help children get more excited about reading and writing. Here are some tips to help you enhance the time you spend with children.

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MILESTONES CHARTSESAMESTREET.ORG/LITERACY

Talking, Reading, and Writing Milestones

What are young children like? This chart can help guide your interactions by giving you an idea of what to expect from children ages 2–5. Keep in mind that this is just a general guide and that each child develops at her own pace.

Children ages 2 and 3 may… » like rhyming and playing with

words and sounds.

» like repetition and want to hear the same story many times.

» complete sentences and rhymes in familiar stories.

» recognize the fi rst letter of their own name.

» begin to use a crayon to scribble and make marks on paper.

Children ages 3 and 4 may… » ask lots of questions.

» recognize rhymes and make up their own rhyming sounds.

» begin to copy letters and numbers.

» remember and retell parts of stories.

» enjoy scribbling and drawing with a crayon.

Children ages 4 and 5 may… » enjoy asking about and using

new words.

» repeat short rhymes and songs.

» recognize some words in print.

» draw pictures that tell stories.

» identify and print their own name.

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©2013 Sesame. ©2013 Sesame.



CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY: TALKING TOGETHERSESAMESTREET.ORG/LITERACY

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Our Healthy Day Conversation CardsLook at the cards to see what some of the Sesame Street friends do to stay healthy. Color in the pictures, then cut them out along the dotted lines. Take turns picking a card, looking at the pictures together, and fi lling in the blanks.

Elmo loves bananas, oranges, and apples! What are 3 different colored fruits you love to eat? Where do they grow?

The Honkers like eating with one another! Whom do you like to eat with? What new food have you tried lately?

Bert and Ernie enjoy cooking together. How do you like to help in the kitchen? What is your favorite kitchen tool? Why?

Cookie Monster keeps his bones strong by eating dairy foods like milk, yogurt, and cheese. What is your favorite dairy food? What other food do you like to eat it with?

Zoe twirls and dances with Grover! What is your favorite way to dance? Whom do you like to dance with?

How do you keep your body healthy? Draw a picture below.

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CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY: TALKING TOGETHERSESAMESTREET.ORG/LITERACY

Sesame Street Puppet Show! Encourage children to color the fi nger puppets and help them cut them out with scissors. Tape a fi nger puppet or two around their fi ngers. You might hold one puppet while the child holds another as you have a conversation together!

Materials needed: scissors, crayons, and tape

Here are some ideas to get the conversation started: » “Let’s plan a surprise birthday party for Big Bird! What do we need for the party?”

» “Let’s work together to make a healthy meal. What foods should we cook?”

» “Let’s sing our favorite songs!”

» “Let’s talk about the people we love and why we love them so much!”

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Hi there! It’s me, Big Bird! What’s your name? The sun is bright and

warm here on Sesame Street today. What is the weather like where you are?

Today I’m going to meet my best friend, Snuffy, at the park. We are going to

play ball and have a picnic. What do you like to do with your friends?

When I get home, it will be time to get ready for bed. My grandma always

reads me a book before I go to sleep. What’s your favorite book to

read at bedtime? I’m so happy to have met you!

Materials needed: scissors and tape or glue

Read-Aloud Story: Getting to Know You!Have fun getting to know Big Bird as you read this short letter together. You can read the words as the child “reads” the pictures. After you read through the story once, cut out the pictures below and paste or tape them into the matching spaces.

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY: READING TOGETHERSESAMESTREET.ORG/LITERACY

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TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION

WORD RHYMING WITH PUMPKIN

SAME TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION

TYPE OF FOOD



PERSON OR ANIMAL

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CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY: READING TOGETHERSESAMESTREET.ORG/LITERACY

Read-Aloud Story: Elmo and Abby’s Fairy Tale Adventure!Have fun reading this story together. Encourage children to use their imagination and think of words to fi ll in the blanks below!

Materials needed: crayon and/or marker

One day, Elmo and Abby wished they could take a trip to a royal

castle! Abby had a marvelous idea – she saw a shiny, orange pumpkin

and said, “I know! I could turn this into a magical, fl ying !” So she said a magic

rhyming spell. “ Pumpkin, lumpkin, ... turn this pumpkin into a

magical !” And poof! The pumpkin turned into a(n) !

So they hopped on and fl ew way up, up, up into the clear blue sky! As Elmo and

Abby walked up to the castle, they were greeted by a friendly who

said, “You are just in time for our tea party!” They sipped on warm tea and ate some

scrumptious . Elmo and Abby had so much fun, but then they

started to miss all their family and friends back home. So they said “thank you” and hopped

back on their magical to go back to Sesame Street.

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CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY: WRITING TOGETHERSESAMESTREET.ORG/LITERACY

My Very Own BookEncourage children to make up a story using drawings, scribbles, or words in the pages below. Then, cut out the squares and staple them to create a book. Have fun reading the book aloud and sharing the story with others, too!

Materials needed: scissors, stapler, crayons, and/or markers

My Book About

By:

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CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY: WRITING TOGETHERSESAMESTREET.ORG/LITERACY

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Just for You! CardsWriting cards is a great way to show people you care about them. Below are two cards children can make to tell someone “I Love You” or “Thank You.” Encourage children to think of special people they would like to say these things to. Then allow them to use crayons or markers to decorate their cards with scribbles, pictures, and words.

Materials needed: scissors, crayons, and/or markers


I Love You!

ThankYou!

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Silly Friends!Let’s have fun talking, reading, and writing about the picture below!

FAMILY HANDOUT: MINI POSTERSESAMESTREET.ORG/LITERACY

Talk:» What is each of the Sesame

Street friends doing?

» What’s silly about this picture?

» What silly thing would you do if you were on Sesame Street?

Read:» Read this poem aloud together

while fi lling in the blanks:

It’s a silly day on Sesame Street!

Zoe does a silly .

While Rosita strums on her .

A pigeon lands on Bert’s .

While a spoon hangs right on Ernie’s .

Spider tickles Elmo’s .

While Abby balances a cap on Big Bird’s !

Write:» Now grab a piece of paper

and pencil, crayon, or marker! Make up a title and write your own silly story about this picture using drawings and scribbles.

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Talk Together: » Talk about anything and

everything! Have conversations during daily routines, such as getting dressed, cooking, or shopping. Use fun and interesting words, even big words, to describe the things you see. Take turns listening and talking to each other.

* On-the-Go! Look through photos on your mobile device or camera. This is a great way to have a conversation about the people you love and to share fun stories and memories. You can also encourage your child to take photos of interesting things in the world – like fl owers, shadows, or ants marching on a sidewalk.

Read Together: » Read aloud together every day.

Make reading a fun part of your naptime, playtime, on-the-go, and bedtime routines. Take time to point to and describe the pictures you see. You can even fi nd letters and words everywhere around you – on signs, storefronts, billboards, and even cereal boxes!

* On-the-Go! Play an “I Spy“ word game, taking turns pointing out words you see as you go about your day. You might “collect” these words by taking a photo of them with your smartphone, then, when you get home, look back on all the words you found!

Write Together: » Allow your child to mark and

scribble freely. Have paper, markers, or crayons or pencils in a place where your child can mark, scribble, draw, or write – anytime, anywhere! Remember, a simple mark on a paper can carry so much meaning to your child.

* On-the-Go! Give your child her very own journal where she can draw pictures, write a letter, or help you make a grocery list. Keep a pack of crayons in your bag so your child can scribble, draw, or write in her journal at a moment’s notice!

Family Tip SheetDear Parents and Caregivers,

Children learn best from the adults who love and care for them. When you listen to and talk with your child about the things you see and do, you are helping him build the foundation for becoming a reader and writer! Here are some fun ways you can talk, read, and write as you go about your everyday routines.

FAMILY HANDOUTSESAMESTREET.ORG/LITERACY

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FAMILY HANDOUTSESAMESTREET.ORG/LITERACY

Around-the-House Labels Create labels using words and pictures of objects around your house. Then cut them out and tape them to the matching objects. Point to and read them together throughout the day. Having lots of words around your house can make your child more interested in reading and writing!

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If you speak more than one language at home, you might create labels for words in multiple languages!

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Volunteers Needed!Every Day is a Reading and Writing Day is a new Sesame Street initiative

that encourages young children and families to make the most of everyday opportunities to talk, read, and write together.

Please come join the Sesame Street friends to help children in our community become stronger readers and writers!

Event Date: Event Time:

Location:

To sign up, please contact:

For more information, visit:

HELPFUL HANDOUTSESAMESTREET.ORG/LITERACY

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You’re Invited!Come join the Sesame Street friends for an exciting new program…

Every Day is a Reading and Writing Day is a new bilingual (English/Spanish) multimedia program designed to help families make the most of

everyday opportunities to talk, read, and write together.

This event will provide opportunities for children to participate in fun-fi lled Sesame Street games and activities. Parents will also receive tips and resources

to get their children excited about talking, reading, and writing! For more resources, visit sesamestreet.org/literacy.

Event Date: Event Time:

Location:

RSVP:

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Sesame StreetCertificate of Participation

NAME

makes every day a talking, reading, and writing day!

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Sesame StreetVolunteer Appreciation Certificate

NAME

Thank you for helping children and families make every day a talking, reading, and writing day!

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Name Tags

NAME ©2013 Sesame. NAME ©2013 Sesame.




welcome, volunteer coordinator! - sesame street · · 2017-06-30welcome, volunteer coordinator!...

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