The Early Literacy Readiness Project (ELRP) provides educational and developmental opportunities for pre-school children. Since 2004, we have provided the ELRP to Volunteers of America Head Start facilities in Los Angeles. The Early Literacy Readiness Project provides storytime readings, story theatre performances and Parent Read-Aloud Workshops that prepare children for success in school and contributes significantly to lifelong reading and thinking skills.

• Research shows that children who participate in preschool programs demonstrate early development of language, literacy, and mathematical skills regardless of ethnic or socio-economic background. Studies also show that children who have a rich and varied language background have an easier time mastering reading and comprehending information

Storytimes: Each storytime presents four to five picture books, fingerplays and songs. Puppets and flannel boards may also be used. The storytimes build vocabulary and listening skills as well as developing visual recognition of forms, shapes, letters and numbers. They also create an atmosphere that is conducive to discussion.

Story Theatre Performances: The story theatre presentations run between 30 and 45 minutes. The shows are lively, colorful and include multi-cultural stories complete with costumes and props. A portable set provides a vibrant backdrop for the action. Each show includes nursery rhymes, folktales and concludes with an interactive story where the children participate in the storytelling. Experiencing literature through the art of theatre humanizes the learning process and enables children to make connections between concepts, words and actions.

Benefits of storytimes and theatre presentations: children are exposed to multi-cultural stories and rhymes children learn to synthesize information aurally and through visual cues children develop oral language skills children learn that language communicates meaning and vocabulary enhances expression children see shapes, letters and numbers which develops print awareness listening skills and attention spans improve storytimes stimulate group discussion theatre presentations demonstrate a different way of enjoying literature children learn how to be a respectful audience

The Parent Read-Aloud Workshop: The Parent Read-Aloud Workshop focuses on the importance of parental involvement as the child’s ‘first teacher.’ Making daily storytimes a habit is discussed and examples of reading material and reading techniques are displayed.

Benefits of the Parent Read-Aloud Workshop: parents realize the importance of daily storytimes with their children parents build their child’s vocabulary and develop experiential knowledge development of print awareness encourages creativity techniques are modeled to demonstrate a variety of reading methods an appreciation of literature and reading is developed a special bond is created between child and parent

Benefits of Combined Activities: Effective pre-k activities help address the ‘readiness gap’ before it becomes an ‘achievement gap'. Studies show that children who participate in quality preschool programs are: more likely to graduate from high school more likely to be employed more likely to earn a higher income more likely to lead healthy lives less likely to need public assistance less likely to become involved in crime