The Importance of Literacy from Birth

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• Joining Jane in the studio from Georgia State University is Early Childhood Professor, Caitlin McMunn Dooley, Ph.D. Also Louise Doughty from Osborne Middle School in Gwinnett County. She's the Media Specialist of the year 2006.
• Caitlin explains what all literacy involves and how it's another use of language. The more you expose your child to reading and writing, the more involved your child's learning will be. It's those sensitive and close interactions that build the learning. An interest in learning comes from the initial caring given from birth.
• Louise adds that having the background of being read to and exposed to literacy really helps children with their willingness to learn more. Literacy skills add to children's self-esteem.
• We quickly learn that the Lexile framework is an excellent guide for parents to help their children pick books that are at their level of reading.

Delivering Literacy

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• To discuss the delivering process of literacy, Jane speaks with Dr. Stan DeJarnett and Mary Mazarky. Dr. DeJarnett is Superintendent of Morgan County Schools as well as a Ferst Foundation board member. Mary is the Pre-K Division Director for Bright from the Start. Film footage on the Ferst Foundation was provided by GPB Apprentice, Raegan Hodge.
• These state agencies work together and pay close attention to homes with children from birth through five. They encourage a collaborative effort between families, schools and community agencies in order to create a strong and successful community that is built on a solid foundation.