Early Literacy in Communities and at Home

In 2023 the Oregon Legislature passed a bill called the Early Literacy Success Initiative. This bill directs the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to help community groups and families support young children develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. This is to take place both in the community and at home. ODE is partnering with Oregon’s Kitchen Table to hear from families with young children and community groups who support families with young children.

ODE is partnering with Oregon's Kitchen Table to hear from people across the state about:

• Activities that help children develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills;
• Important topics for community groups in supporting young children and developing literacy skills;
• What people are most interested in learning about in regards to early literacy;
• What barriers and opportunities people see to be able to have the kinds of supports for children in community and at home that they would like; and
• What hopes families and community groups have for the children they support as they develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.

Your input will help ODE create a framework and toolkit that works for community groups to support families.  Please share your thoughts in this survey (https://tinyurl.com/okt-earlyliteracy) through April 11th. Ask people you know in Oregon who support young children in their family or through a community group to take this survey.

Zoom Conversations for Community Groups

If you are part of a community-based organization, group, or institution that supports families and young children as they develop reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, please join us for a Zoom conversation to talk about what could be helpful for community groups in this work.  Register for one of the Zoom conversations through the links below:

• March 21,  12:00pm - 1:30pm: Zoom registration - https://bit.ly/mar21-earlyliteracy
• April 1, 3:00pm - 4:30pm: Zoom registration - https://bit.ly/apr1-earlyliteracy
• April 4, 9:00am - 10:30am: Zoom registration - https://bit.ly/apr4-earlyliteracy
• en español: 10 de abril, de 3:00pm a 4:30pm - https://tinyurl.com/abr10-alfabetizacion 

Kitchen Table Conversation Guide

Are you interested in hosting a conversation about what could help community groups and families support young children develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills?

• For families of young children: if you care for a young child and want to lead a conversation with other families, download the Kitchen Table Conversation Guide for Families. 
• Familias con niños pequeños: Ésta guía es para cualquier persona que quiera organizar y presentar una Conversación de Oregon Kitchen Table con su familia, amigos o vecinos sobre el tema del Alfabetización temprana. 
• For community groups (organizations, institutions, and entities): if you are part of a community group and want to lead a conversation about with your community group or other community groups, download the Kitchen Table Conversation Guide for Community Groups.

Contact us (email info@oregonskitchentable.org) if you want help hosting a conversation.