Arlington School & Family Magazine January 2015 | Page 9

with their children that include a storytime, letter and word
recognition activities, sorting and problem-solving activities,
and songs and rhymes. All of this material is presented in
English and Spanish, as the majority of students and parents
come from Spanish-speaking homes. Throughout the session,
storytime leaders model ways that parents can incorporate
literacy activities into their routines, such as asking for the
color of a sign in both English and Spanish or showing how to
count the child’s age on their fingers. These sessions not only
help the children build their skills, they help parents develop
and experience the tools they need to help their children
become lifelong readers.
For parents of prekindergarten children who have already
started school, the library provides reminders of the services
it has available by inviting students from 32 AISD elementary

The Arlington Public Library worked with five different
locations in the fall of 2014 to spread the word about how
important quality, parent-child literacy time is for babies.
During each session, the parents receive a book for their
child to add to their home libraries. They are taught how to
use the book as a teaching tool, receiving tips such as how to
point out colors and sounds to their babies when reading the
book together. One of the most important things that these
parents are taught is that they are their child’s first and most
important teacher, and that even though they are young,
they are very capable of teaching literacy to their child. †

schools in the TLI and United Way programs to the library
each fall and spring for a special storytime and tour of the
building. Morning and afternoon prekindergarten classes
take the bus to the library, where they are then treated to
stories, songs, rhymes and a tour of the library. Prior to the
visit, students are sent home with an application for a My First
Library card, and those who return it go home with their very
own library card at the end of the visit. Students also receive a
tote bag with a book, library storytime schedule and handouts
with early literacy tips for parents.
Finally, Life Through Literacy is a special program created
specifically for teenage parents in the Arlington public school
district. These students are taught that reading, singing and
speaking to their babies will better prepare their children for
school and work in the future. Many of these young parents do
not know that teaching their children nursery rhymes helps to
introduce them to vocabulary and rhythm. Also, encouraging
positive experiences with books helps foster a love of reading
as the child grows older. The goal of this program is to educate
these teen parents on how to teach literacy to their children so
that their babies can grow up to be successful.

January 2015 - Arlington School & Family 7