Melissa D.'s blog

Suggest a Book for the Bell Awards!

May 22, 2013 - 2:36pm — Melissa D.

Hooray! Our new CLEL Bell Awards are now officially launched!

This is a longer post today with information about how to suggest a title for consideration for the 2014 awards.

Who Can Suggest a Title?

While we are located here in Colorado, the Bell Awards are very much a national initiative, so the Selection Committee welcomes suggested titles from everyone with an interest in picture books and early literacy, no matter where you are located.

CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards Update

May 17, 2013 - 11:45am — Melissa D.

Earlier this year on this blog we announced the CLEL Bell Awards, a new children's literature award created to recognize picture books that provide excellent support of early literacy development in young children.

Put February 5, 2014 on your calendar because we’ll announce the first CLEL Bell Awards then! There will be five winners, with one title representing each of five early literacy practices: Read, Write, Sing, Talk, and Play.

Call for CLEL 12 News!

August 8, 2012 - 11:37am — Melissa D.

CLEL 12 News

Advocacy Tip for February: Create an Elevator Speech

February 27, 2012 - 9:00am — Melissa D.

When you meet someone at a party, and
they ask you what you love about your job, do you talk about early
literacy? When you’re chatting with your hairdresser or your
neighbor, and you tell them you work in a library, do they ask what
exactly you do?

When that happens, do you have an
“elevator speech” ready to go?

An elevator speech is a short pitch or
description of a business, a product, or a service. It’s designed
to pique someone’s interest in the short time it takes to share an
elevator from one floor to the next.

February CLEL 12 Update!

February 22, 2012 - 12:53pm — Melissa D.

Time
for our monthly update on the CLEL12 project, a set of early-literacy
related activities you are invited to complete this year. The actions
were developed as basic building blocks, to help you strengthen your
role as an early-literacy advocate, increase your participation in
the early literacy community, further your own professional
development and education, and expand your knowledge of the CLEL
organization.

It’s
been exciting to see the blog posts that have been sent in as part of
CLEL 12. We appreciate learning about what’s going on in your
library!

Picture Book Review: Pond Walk

December 14, 2011 - 9:00am — Melissa D.

Are you looking for a book to share during your next parents’ and caregivers’ workshop?

Literacy-Based Crafts: Rocket Ship

October 2, 2011 - 10:00pm — Melissa D.

One way to prompt conversations between a child and their grown-up during your craft time is to include some written questions as part of the project materials. For example, if you are handing out a coloring sheet, can you write in an open-ended question or two before you photocopy it?

This very simple rocket craft adds an “outer space” coloring sheet with a couple of prompts for the grown-ups to read as the children play.

Rocket Ship

First, the rockets!

Literacy-Based Crafts: Pipe Cleaner Constructions

August 21, 2011 - 10:00pm — Melissa D.

Here’s a very simple project that can go along with a Houses or Tools or Building storytime! Simply hand out three or four pipe cleaners to each child and ask them to “build” something. It can be an object from one of your storytime books, or something imaginary. (Purchased in bulk, pipe cleaners are just a penny or two a piece. You can cut the pipe cleaners in two before you begin, so children can use a greater variety of colors.)

5 Colorado Library Youth Services Bloggers

July 23, 2011 - 10:00am — Melissa D.

These Colorado librarians are blogging their storytimes and book reviews, and talking about early literacy. Follow them for some fresh ideas! If you are a Colorado youth services specialist with a blog that we missed, please let us know!

Passionate Librarian

Inspiring stories about how storytimes can make a difference, early literacy information, book reviews, songs and fingerplay podcasts, and much more.

Miss Mary Liberry

5 Early Childhood Blogs that Discuss Early Literacy

July 9, 2011 - 10:00am — Melissa D.

Here are five non-library world bloggers who regularly discuss early literacy activities and ideas. Check them out from time to time! You may be inspired to turn one of their craft projects into a preschool program, or refer storytime parents and caregivers here for further reading about the importance of early literacy.

Teach Mama