What is early language and literacy, and why is it important?
Research shows that the number of loving words a baby hears in the early years of life is a strong predictor of their ability to read by third grade and their future success. Children who do not learn the necessary language, comprehension and vocabulary skills at an early age often fall so far behind other kids that they can never catch up. The trajectory of these children’s lives can be dramatically changed if they are engaged from birth in environments rich in warm language, conversation, and other brain-building activities. That is why the Alabama Partnership for Children is embarking on a project to unite stakeholders statewide around improving early language development for children birth through age five.
Major funding for this incentive program is provided by the Alabama Department of Human Resources, the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, and the Alabama Department of Mental Health: and by private funding from Daniel Foundation of Alabama, the Mike and Gillian Goodrich Foundation, and the Protective Life Foundation.
Read Right From the Start on Cox Campus
A key partner in our efforts to promote early literacy in the state of Alabama is the Atlanta Speech School’s Rollins Center for Language & Literacy, which works to bring the School’s 80-year expertise in constructing the reading brain to early childhood educators, parents, and others who interact with young children. With generous partner investments, the Atlanta Speech School has developed Read Right from the Start on the school’s online Cox Campus. Read Right from the Start on Cox Campus synthesizes the work of the nation’s leading literacy experts and provides free, online access to research-based professional development for teachers of children from birth to eight years of age. This interactive, video-based coursework is focused on practical strategies teachers can use to promote young children’s language and literacy.
Read Right From The Start in Alabama Early Care and Education Classrooms
Talk With Me Baby
The Alabama Partnership for Children is coordinating this initiative for the state of Alabama. As part of the Talk With Me Baby model, the APC targets the large-scale workforces that already interact with new and expectant parents. This includes nurses, WIC nutritionists, early learning educators, and more. The program prepares employees in these fields to coach families on how and why to provide their babies with the “language nutrition” they need to support early brain development. All parents want to do what is best for their children. Talk With Me Baby is designed to reach parents and caregivers across the state, introducing them to the joys and power of talking with their baby!
Major funding for this program is provided by the Alabama Department of Human Resources.
Our Programs
