To submit comments, or to suggest items for this newsletter or First5LA.org, contact Denise Nix, writer/editor, at DNix@First5LA.org or 213-482-7831.
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Best Start Community Discussion - East L.A. Businesses
Click events below to view full listings.
Best Start Community Discussion - East L.A. Community-based Organizations and Civic Leaders
Wed., Nov. 3, 2010
2:30 - 4 p.m.
Best Start Community Discussion - Central Long Beach Parents and Community Leaders
Wed., Nov. 3, 2010
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Best Start Community Discussion - El Monte Non-Profits, Faith-Based Leaders and Educators
Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010
9:30 - 11 a.m.
Convening for National Prematurity Awareness Month
Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Coro CrossTalk on Childhood Obesity: A Big Problem for Little Kids
Monday, Nov. 8, 2010
8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Best Start Community Discussion - East L.A. Businesses
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010
9 - 10:30 a.m.
Beyond the Bill: Achieving Change with Administrative Advocacy
Wed., Nov. 10, 2010
10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Best Start Community Discussion - East L.A. Parents, Residents & Faith-based Leaders
Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010
10 - 11:30 a.m.
Effective Observations of Infants and Toddlers
Monday, Nov. 15, 2010
9 a.m. - Noon
Got Milk? Hot Topics, Cool Answers
Wed., Nov. 17, 2010
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Free Health Screenings
Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010
9:30 a.m. - Noon
Stay in School 4th Annual Family Community Resource Fair
Friday, Nov. 19, 2010
3 - 5:30 p.m.
The Los Angeles Perinatal Mental Health Task Force's First Annual "Speak Up When You're Down" Fundraiser
Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010
5 - 9 p.m.
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FIRST 5 LA MOVES TO AVERT LOCAL CHILD CARE CRISIS
In response to the elimination of child care for nearly 7,000 children whose parents have successfully moved off welfare, the First 5 LA Commission approved up to $15 million in transitional funding to restore a CalWORKs child care program for Los Angeles County's youngest children. More »
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Read Early, Read Aloud!
An East Los Angeles 4-year-old and her grandparents already know what a great place the library is. During early literacy month, the Southern California First 5 Commissions hope other families also Read Early, Read Aloud! More »
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Kindergarten Boot Camp: A help or a hindrance?
Experts don't agree if intensive pre-kindergarten academic instruction is good for all children. More »
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Strategic Plan Four Goals
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Moving Forward, Goal Areas: Children Are Safe From Abuse and Neglect
As First 5 LA moves forward in implementing our FY 2009-2015 Strategic Plan, we remain focused on the four goals we hope to accomplish throughout Los Angeles County: children are born healthy, children maintain a healthy weight, they are safe from abuse and neglect and ready for kindergarten. More »
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Evie's Desk: Early Literacy Pays Off
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Today, First 5 LA, along with our fellow Southern California First 5 Commissions, is kicking off our annual month-long early literacy campaign, Read Early, Read Aloud! While we all know that reading to, and reading with, young children helps them learn and succeed in school, I wanted to check on our state's students to see the level of difficulty we're combating.
Every year, the National Center for Education Statistics publishes the Nation's Report Card that lets us know how 4th and 8th graders nationwide, and in each state, are fairing in core subjects. Maps, graphs and charts compare students to each other on the basis of geography, gender, race and socio-economic standing. Looking just at California's 4th grade public school students' reading scores from 2009, the data is grim: - Out of 500, the average score in California was 210 - lower than the average nationwide score of 220 for public schools.
- California ranked lower than 43 other states, similar to seven and higher than one.
- About 54 percent of California's 4th grade public school students performed at or above the basic level, which means 46 percent fell below the basic level.
- The state's average score has increased since testing began in 1992.
- The score gaps between white students and minorities was significant, with black students on average scoring 27 percent lower and Latino students scoring 31 percent lower.
Literacy does not begin in kindergarten or elementary school - it starts long before, in infancy, and is an ongoing process. It includes reading, writing, listening and talking. The earlier we read to our children, studies prove, the better they'll do in school. I know we can all find ways to our help young readers achieve, and this month is as good a month as any to start. For more information, visit Ready. Set. Grow! or the Southern California Read Early, Read Aloud! websites.
Evelyn V. Martinez Chief Executive Officer
First 5 LA
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"Evie's Desk" is a regular feature of our weekly newsletter, "Monday Morning Report". Subscribe now or view past issues.
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