Recommended Resources

Best Practices
Foundations of Universal Design for Learning
Foundations of Universal Design for Learning
Foundations of Universal Design for Learning

An introductory teacher course to learn the what, why, and how of Universal Design for Learning.
Rapid Resources
How to Read an E-Book with Your Child
How to Read an E-Book with Your Child
How to Read an E-Book with Your Child

This article gives families three simple tips on how to help younger children stay focused on the story when reading from a digital text.
Rapid Resources
Molina Foundation
Molina Foundation
Molina Foundation

The Molina Foundation works hand-in-hand with community-based organizations in vulnerable communities. They are committed to improving healthy child development with a focus on access to literacy, language, and early childhood education through their programs: Book Buddies, WordUp and On My Way to Kindergarten.
Best Practices
Promote Early Childhood Literacy in Your Practice
Promote Early Childhood Literacy in Your Practice
Promote Early Childhood Literacy in Your Practice

Family physicians play an integral role in educating families about early childhood literacy. The American Academy of Family Physicians identify Early Childhood Literacy as a Social Determinants of Health that physicians can assist with by creating a literacy-friendly practice.
Rapid Resources
Renaissance Accelerated Reader Bookfinder
Renaissance Accelerated Reader Bookfinder
Renaissance Accelerated Reader Bookfinder

Look up your child’s book title to find the corresponding Lexile reading level and Renaissance Learning Accelerated Reader 360 quiz. Selecting the right books to help your child with reading and comprehension is easier than ever.
Rapid Resources
Literacy Activities in the Home
Literacy Activities in the Home
Literacy Activities in the Home

This document provides interactive literacy activities designed for parents to use with their child at home.
Rapid Resources
Center for Early Literacy Learning
Center for Early Literacy Learning
Center for Early Literacy Learning

The Center for Early Learning Literacy promotes the adoption and sustained use of evidence-based early literacy learning practices.
Rapid Resources
Footsteps2Brilliance
Footsteps2Brilliance
Footsteps2Brilliance

Students can engage in early literacy learning in this fun and engaging game-based platform that is accessible on-line or as an app download. These fun activities support the development of print concept, phonemic awareness, phonics, and word recognition
Rapid Resources
Best Beginnings Activities and Resources
Best Beginnings Activities and Resources
Best Beginnings Activities and Resources

Best Beginnings discusses the importance of children's first five years, provides activities and resources for parents and educators to support whole child development, and identifies steps community members and businesses can take to support early child development.
Rapid Resources
Growing Readers
Growing Readers
Growing Readers

Best Beginnings provides early literacy resources to encourage parents and caregivers to read with their children to prepare them for Kindergarten.
Rapid Resources
Funbrain - Free Online Learning
Funbrain - Free Online Learning
Funbrain - Free Online Learning

Funbrain offers hundreds of engaging online games, stories and printables that develop skills in math, reading, problem-solving and literacy.
Rapid Resources
20 Tips for Creating a Language Rich Environment for Your Toddler
20 Tips for Creating a Language Rich Environment for Your Toddler
20 Tips for Creating a Language Rich Environment for Your Toddler

Author shares best practices for parents to increase both the quality and quantity of words spoken at home to a baby.
Rapid Resources
Early Literacy at The New York Public Library
Early Literacy at The New York Public Library
Early Literacy at The New York Public Library

New York Public Library offers a range of resources and programming (songs, read alouds and more) for families and children to enjoy reading together.
Rapid Resources
Read Across America
Read Across America
Read Across America

This campaign focuses on developing students' love of reading through reading events across the country.
Rapid Resources
Reading A-Z
Reading A-Z
Reading A-Z

Reading A-Z provides affordable, easily accessible online reading resources: leveled reading books, and downloadable, projectable, printable teacher materials. Purchase necessary, free trial available.
Rapid Resources
Reading is Fundamental - Literacy Facts and Stats
Reading is Fundamental - Literacy Facts and Stats
Reading is Fundamental - Literacy Facts and Stats

America’s literacy crisis has reached epidemic proportions, with millions of children and adults affected each and every year by a never-ending cycle of educational disadvantage.
Rapid Resources
12 Steps to Creating a Language-Rich Environment
12 Steps to Creating a Language-Rich Environment
12 Steps to Creating a Language-Rich Environment

Teacher shares best practices on how to create a language-rich classroom environment. Some best practices include reading aloud every day, using word walls, and using anchor charts.
Rapid Resources
Together We Read: A Family Literacy Service
Together We Read: A Family Literacy Service
Together We Read: A Family Literacy Service

San Jose Public Libraries offer a range of resources for children and their families to learn to read, together. The library provides book give-a-ways, parenting tips, and workshops for parents and kids.
Rapid Resources
Starfall - Reading, Math and Songs
Starfall - Reading, Math and Songs
Starfall - Reading, Math and Songs

Starfall.com hosts a variety of interactive resources, allowing children to engage in phonics-based reading, develop early literacy skills, and read decodable texts that support high interest topics and themes.
Rapid Resources
Universal Kids Games
Universal Kids Games
Universal Kids Games

Universal Kids allows children to play and explore exciting games with their favorite characters. Math, spelling, and coloring games are available for children ages 2 to 12 years.
Best Practices
School and Business Partnerships That Work - Success Stories
School and Business Partnerships That Work - Success Stories
School and Business Partnerships That Work - Success Stories

Business-school partnership success stories that share ideas to help schools build successful partnerships.
Rapid Resources
Community Engagement for Early Childhood Learning
Community Engagement for Early Childhood Learning
Community Engagement for Early Childhood Learning

The Head Start Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) provides a series of resources for business, government, community, and faith-based leaders to provide meaningful collaboration between early childhood staff, families, and community services.
Rapid Resources
Collaborations with Public Libraries and the Benefits to Early Childhood Education
Collaborations with Public Libraries and the Benefits to Early Childhood Education
Collaborations with Public Libraries and the Benefits to Early Childhood Education

This document provides a list of some local and national websites sponsored by libraries and links to research articles. The list also offers descriptions of collaborations between public libraries and early childhood education.
Best Practices
Faith-Based and Community Leaders Early Learning Toolkit
Faith-Based and Community Leaders Early Learning Toolkit
Faith-Based and Community Leaders Early Learning Toolkit

This toolkit provides specific guidelines and strategies to empower faith-based and community leaders to help young African-American children and families thrive.