Look back at 2011
Before plunging into the New Year, I thought I’d take a glance back at 2011. And what I saw prompted a double-take. Wow. Here’s a sampling:
Ready for school, revisited
I participated recently in a workshop at the Association of Alaska School Boards conference. The topic was school readiness. I asked the school board members how they would define “ready for kindergarten.” People’s response to this question typically includes skills such as knowing the names and sounds of letters; knowing numbers, shapes, and colors; being able to count; demonstrating physical motor skills; and using language and being able to follow directions.
Suppose you gave a party and everyone came …
…and brought along a few of their friends? Oh, you’d be happy. You’d feel valued, appreciated, and thrilled. But you’d also be worried. Will there be enough food? Will there be enough room? Will everyone have a good time?
That’s the story of Anchorage Imagination Library. It’s growing and growing and growing, and the original handful of volunteer organizers are getting overwhelmed. They are incredibly dedicated, but they need help.
Formula for kindergarten success
I wrote a column a couple of years ago about getting ready for kindergarten, and that column attracted more response than anything else I’ve written. Of course, everything we do at Best Beginnings is about getting ready for kindergarten. But as that big first day of big kids’ school looms, as it does now, I thought about the question of kindergarten readiness from a slightly different angle: What does kindergarten success look like?
Early childhood gains higher profile
Alaskans across the state made their voices heard during the 2011 legislative session and told legislators why it is critical for Alaska to invest in early learning. They called legislators, sent e-mails, and testified before committees, in person or via teleconference.
Miles to go before we sleep, but oh, how far we’ve come!
In early March, Best Beginnings held a Founders & Friends lunch in Anchorage. Our purpose was to thank our longtime supporters, welcome newer friends, and give everyone a snapshot of how far we’ve come in just over four years. We just didn’t realize it would be so much fun, too.
Building Blocks of Literacy
I have a long personal and professional history with early childhood and education issues. Even so, I find that our work here sometimes produces delightful ah-ha moments, when something I’ve long known takes on a different light.
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