411 - Why Early Childhood Literacy is Necessary for Our Preschoolers Upon Entering Kindergarten to Be Prepared and Confident in Order to Succeed Later in Life
Richard Rosen, Literacy Chair, Rotary District #6440, Retired Commissioner, Wheeling Park District, and Former Educational Advisory Board Member, University of Arizona College of Education; Phil Stanko, Commissioner, Cary Park District, Cary Grove Rotary Club Member, and Retired High School Teacher
In this presentation, through personal experiences and statistics, we will emphasize the importance and effects parks and recreation can offer preschool students for their future learning process once they enter kindergarten or first grade. One of many startling statistics is that two-thirds of students who cannot read at the fourth-grade level upon entering fifth grade end up in poverty, the criminal justice system, or both. The process of ensuring each of our preschoolers are properly prepared after leaving school could change their lives (underscoring the importance of getting this message to the parents of preschoolers). This interactive presentation will include an open discussion so that participants can share their successful preschools program ideas to contribute to a body of knowledge from which all participants will be able to learn and benefit.
Learning Outcomes:
- Recognize the importance of literacy programs as critical to improving childhood outcomes.
- Understand how parks and recreation can play a role in this effort.
- Share program ideas to facilitate early childhood learning in existing programs.