STEAM Workshop at SFPL Main

On May 18^th, 2012, the San Francisco Public Library hosted a “What’s Hot in STEAM?” workshop led by Dr. Judy Cheatham from Reading is Fundamental (RIF). This lively event was attended by approximately 50 San Francisco and Oakland Public Library children’s librarians, branch managers, Project Read staff, and other library professionals plus San Francisco Early Literacy Network partners from Raising a Reader, Bring Me a Book, Screen Actors Guild BookPALS, and Pulsing Word Consulting.

STEAM is an enhancement of the STEM initiative which promotes making science, technology, engineering, and math skills a natural part of education from early literacy on up. STEAM proponents hope to broaden the scope by including the arts.

Dr. Cheatham was dynamic, warm, funny, and astute. She discussed RIF’s multicultural literacy initiative, the current reading landscape, basic interpersonal communication skills vs. cognitive academic language proficiency, the summer reading slide, and quite a bit more. Her presentation and the interactive small group activities were engaging and practical. RIF also generously provided each attendee with three picture books particularly suited to STEAM use, a wealth of curricula, and a delicious continental breakfast. For a visual tour of the workshop please peruse the 15 photos posted below.

For more information about STEM, STEAM, and RIF please use the following links.

STEM

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-launches-educate-innovate-campaign-excellence-science-technology-en

STEAM

http://stemtosteam.org

Reading is Fundamental (the nation’s oldest and largest children’s and family literacy non-profit)

http://www.rif.org

All the best, Amy Perry and Brian Castagne

Christy Estrovitz, San Francisco Public Library Early Literacy Coordinator, introduces Dr. Judy B. Cheatham of Reading is Fundamental (RIF).

Judy Cheatham engages the audience.

Judy Cheatham compares math and science scores of students from the US to those of students from China.

Strategic education priorities from the White House.

Spirited interactive activity.

Sharing her new favorite picture book, Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham.

Modeling how to employ the STEAM framework during a read aloud.

Lynne Mayes of Pulsing Word Consulting and Screen Actors Guild BookPALS embraces the activity with Christy Estrovitz.

Eric Auyeung, SFPL Children's Librarian, and Karen Drachler from Bring me a Book generate learning activities.

SFPL Children's Librarians Ruben Balderas and Eric Auyeung being creative.

SFPL Children's Librarians, Eric Barbus, Sarah Stone, and Children and Teen Selection Specialist Denise Schmidt devise learning activities.

Oakland Public Library's Janet Cheung, SFPL Children Services Librarians Laura Tarango and Mary Ellen Massa, and Golden Gate Valley Branch Manager Irene Lee evaluate new learning materials.

Amy Perry of SFPL Mobile Outreach Services, Liesel Harris-Bundy from West Portal Branch, and Celia of the Oakland Public Library look over the wealth of materials.

SFPL's Kimberly Lauer and Barbara VanderBorght, and Michelle Callwood of Raising a Reader show that learning is fun.

Lyn Davidson, SFPL Fisher Children's Center Assistant Manager, details the bounty of books and learning materials provided free from Reading is Fundamental. She then convened the SFPL Children's Services Monthly Meeting.

Early Literacy Buffet

On Saturday, March 25, 2011 the SF Early Literacy Network presented the Early Literacy Buffet at the San Francisco Main Library. This event brought 65 early childhood educators, many family daycare providers, out of the rain and into the library for a scrumptious breakfast catered by the Mint Café and morning of learning. With the goal of supporting, engaging, and nurturing this community, the event included a showcase of partners and resources, followed by a tour of the Main Library's Fisher Children’s Center and two concurrent professional development trainings led by ELN members. In additional to our booklists and Certificate of Professional Development, each provider received a copy of Lola at the Library and All the World to refresh their classroom library. Educators were overjoyed to receive such an abundance of resources.

Representing the San Francisco Public Library were Christy Estrovitz, Brian Castagne, Katrin Reimuller, Amy Perry, Loretta Dowell, and Toni Bernardi. ELN members included Catherine Aranda (Jumpstart) Janell Bolte (formerly of Raising A Reader), Karen Drachler (Bring Me A Book Foundation), Lynne Maes (Raising A Reader), Betsy Keever Russakoff (formerly of Raising A Reader), and Alli Spector (Jamestown Community Center).

A very welcoming Lynne Maes.

Molly Wertz and Karen Drachler manage registration with ease.

Healthy and tasty breakfast provided for all.

Robert Doerr and Ginger charm the crowd.

Christy Estrovitz highlights the wealth of early literacy and family activities
provided through the San Francisco Public Library.

Approximately 65 educators gain resources.

Katrin Reimuller collects the raffle entries at the ELN resource table.

Alli Spector draws a lucky winner.

Experiencing the Play to Learn area
during a guided tour of the Fisher Children's Center.

Katrin and Amy Perry highlight the resources and field questions.

Lynne and Alli lead a group through a wide range of learning activities in the
"Language and Literacy Development Through Song, Story, and Movement" workshop.

Lynne and Alli showcase creative dramatic strategies using "Where the Wild Things Are."

Janell Bolte and Betsy Keever Russakoff put theory into practice during the
"Recipe for Rockin' Read Alouds: A Delicious Treat for the Young Child."

Héloïse Courty, Catherine Arnada, Christy, and Toni Bernardi
in lively discussion.

Katrin debriefs with the rarely photographed Brian Castagne.

Educators model reading strategies.

Reading up a storm.

Janell and Betsy facilitate a spirited
"I am a Superstar because I love my books and I love to read!"anthem.

Thank you to all of the participants, facilitators, interns, sponsors
and all others who made this event such a rousing success.

Warm Regards, Christy

Photos by Amy, Betsy, and Brian.
Feel free to use them for non-profit purposes but please give credit / attribution.