Early Literacy Buffet 2012 - A Success!

On Saturday, February 25, 2012, approximately eighty service providers and community partners gathered at the San Francisco Main Library for the SF Early Literacy Network’s annual Early Literacy Buffet Honoring Early Childhood Educators. The festive morning of professional development, nourishment, and gratitude began with a hearty breakfast sponsored by SFPL and catered by the Mint Café, and a showcase of the many services provided by ELN members. Saroj Ghoting, national early literacy expert, gave a rousing research-based keynote, Supporting Early Literacy Through Powerful Interactions. After a brief tour of the Main Library’s Fisher Children’s Center, educators participated in two concurrent trainings. ELN members Catherine Aranda, Michele Callwood, Verónica Flores-Malagón, and Jo McConnell presented Building Playful Extensions With Books inspired by Hervé Tullet’s Press Here. Alli Cuentos and Lynne Maes led an interactive session, Playful Transitions in the Name of Early Literacy, and supported by The Neighborhood Mother Goose Singalong by Nina Crews. The event concluded with raffle prizes, distribution of the Certificate of Professional Development, and expression of our deepest appreciation.

Representing the San Francisco Public Library were Brian Castagne, Lyn Davidson, Christy Estrovitz, and Amy Perry.  ELN members included Catherine Aranda (Jumpstart), Janell Bolte (ELN co-founder and Non-profit Education Consultant), Michele Callwood (Raising A Reader), Alli Cuentos (Jamestown Community Center and Pulsing Word Consulting), Jude Deckenbach (First Book San Francisco), Verónica Flores-Malagón (Raising A Reader), Lynne Maes (Pulsing Word Consulting), and Jo McConnell (Raising A Reader).

Thank you to all of the participants and partners who made this event such a remarkable success. Brian isn't in any of the photos of the amazing Early Literacy Buffet because he was hard at work taking them - over 1000+ photographs! We narrowed them down to the 36 shots below (click on any photo to see a larger version and slide show option). We will soon post additional shots through a Flickr link so please check back (feel free to use any of the photos for non-profit purposes but please give credit/attribution).

Warm regards, Christy & Brian

Early Literacy Buffet registration filled up quickly.

SFPL Security warmly welcomes registered participants.

Jude Deckenbach and Janell Bolte make registration a breeze.

Educators mingle and nosh.

Special musical guests Robert Doerr and Ginger.

Christy Estrovitz welcomes all to the San Francisco Public Library.

Some of the many Library services provided to educators.

Library card: free access to a multitude of riches.

Janell Bolte and Christy Estrovitz, ELN co-founders, share the history and discuss the future.

The ELN loves to collaborate!

Catherine Aranda details Jumpstart's work in the Visitacion Valley, Mission, and Bayview communities.

Jo McConnell and Michele Callwood showcase the benefits of Raising A Reader's famous red bag.

Lynne Maes and Alli Cuentos unveil Pulsing Word Consulting services.

Saroj Ghoting, national early literacy expert, presents a playful and practical keynote.

Saroj engages educators in discussion of the newest techniques based on the latest research.

Saroj promotes playful practice.

Go forth and play!

Amy Perry and Janell Bolte show how it's done! They captivate the crowd with a rockin' read aloud of Pete the Cat.

Amy Perry, Early Literacy Bookmobile Librarian, and Lyn Davidson, Assistant Manager of  the Children's Center, provide a guided tour of the extensive early childhood library.

Catherine Aranda of Jumpstart, Michele Callwood, Jo McConnell, and Verónica Flores-Malagón of Raising A Reader partner up to present an engaging workshop.

 "Building Playful Extensions With Books" workshop inspired by Herve Tullet's Press Here. 

Educators pour over new copies (for them to keep) of Press Here.

Book inspired color and action game.

Participants create a new song inspired by Press Here.

Crafty educators at work.

Alli Cuentos, Jamestown Community Center, and Lynne Maes, Pulsing Word Consulting, present "Playful Transitions in the Name of Early Literacy."

Holding hands, making friends, and building skills. 

Small group activities and discussions.

Alli Cuentos uses music and movement to gather the group.

Music and motion brings everyone together.

Positive transition complete. Engaging new activity begins.

Raffle Time!

Lucky educator wins $90 Target gift card donated by Jumpstart.

Another raffle winner! Displaying the wealth of resources distributed to all participants plus her raffle prize of a bag chock full of fabulous new books donated by Project Read.

Jude Deckenbach, First Book San Francisco, distributes a Certificate of Professional Development  to each educator.

With our gratitude, each participant received a goody bag full of booklists and educational treats.

And what did participants think about the Buffet?

• Thank you for your support!
• What a great and inspiring resource!
• SFPL is wonderful!
• You Rock!
• Thank you for providing such a great opportunity to learn more about early literacy acquisition.
• This yearly program is awesome!
• I loved learning about early literacy through powerful interactions.
• Thank you for providing this opportunity for us to meet the experts and other educators. We learn together.
• Job well done!
• It helped my knowledge of early literacy in young children. I will use what I learned today to create curriculum that reflects the children’s literacy level.
• I feel renewed at a busy time of the year.

Early Literacy Buffet on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012

(Click image above for larger view or to print)

Children & Youth Services of the San Francisco Public Library
in association with SF Early Literacy Network

Invites you to an exclusive
Early Literacy Buffet
Honoring Early Childhood Educators

Saturday, February 25, 2012
8:30 a.m.-12 noon
Main Library, Second Floor
Fisher Children’s Center

Enjoy a hot breakfast, mingle with colleagues, and participate in professional development sessions.

Saroj Ghoting, Supporting Early Literacy Through Powerful Interactions
Alli Cuentos & Lynne Maes, Playful Transitions in the Name of Early Literacy
Jumpstart & Raising A Reader, Building Playful Extensions With Books

Registration required.
Please contact Christy Estrovitz
E-mail cestrovitz@sfpl.org

 or call (415) 557-4218

Main Library 100 Larkin St. (at Grove) sfpl.org
All programs at the Library are free.
Supported by Every Child Ready to Read Initiative

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.

2nd Annual Tricycle Music Fest West - October 2010

 

Not-so-Gentle Reader,

The San Francisco Public Library will be the place for families to rock out, for free, this October. Please click this link (www.sfpl.org/tricycle) for more information on the 5 big events coming your way. The first event will be on Sunday, October 9, 2010 at the 3pm in the Bernal Heights Branch Library Meeting Room. The 5th and final event will be Sunday, October 24, 2010 from 11am - 2:30pm in Civic Center on the Larkin Street Steps outside of the Main Library.

Shine on you crazy diamonds, Brian

Read for the Record October 7, 2010

 

Thursday, October 7, 2010 will be Jumpstart Read for the Record Day! People all across the nation will read and share the same fabulous children's book - The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Please click on this link (Jumpstart Read for the Record) for more information on this world-record-shattering event.

All the best, Brian

Early Childhood Education Workshops - SF Public Library

Dear Early Literacy Colleagues,

I am pleased to inform you that the Fall 2010 ECE Workshop Series provided by the San Francisco Public Library is in full swing! Due to high demand and limited space, the workshops are limited to early childhood educators currently working with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers in San Francisco. The Fall series focuses on  infant/toddler circle times, music and movement, and creative dramatics.

Dr. Betsy Diamant-Cohen kicks-off the series with “Mother Goose on the Loose: Circle Times for Infants and Toddlers” scheduled Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 10:30am- 1:30pm at the Main Library’s Creative Center. It is specifically designed for teachers working with infants, toddlers, and family day care environments.

For more information about these free professional development opportunities for San Francisco’s early childhood community please call (415) 557-4272.

Warmest regards,
Christy Estrovitz,
Early Literacy Specialist - San Francisco Public Library