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From the Director
Our lives have changed dramatically over the past few months. As we adjust to this “new normal,” I'm inspired and encouraged by the way leaders across the state are finding innovative ways to support children’s learning and development. Schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year, but Georgia educators—and countless public and private partners—have shown that their hearts remain open.
Parents of young learners can utilize Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning’s Georgia Pre-K At Home that features four categories: Storytime, Virtual Field Trips, Let’s Go Outside, and Screen-Free Time, along with Pop-Up Early Learning from the Atlanta Speech School’s Cox Campus that’s designed to support children’s development in empathy, language, and literacy.
We’re continuing to compile and share an expanding list of resources at getgeorgiareading.org/coronavirus to help ensure our children and families can eat, learn, stay safe, and remain connected. Please share this with your network—and be sure to tell us how your community is helping children and families. Be well.
With gratitude,
Arianne
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#GetGAReading this Month
Please share these posts on your own social media platforms this month.
 Check out these free literacy resources available while children are learning at home. Visit getgeorgiareading.org/coronavirus for a full list of resources and updates, including information about tracking COVID-19, school closures and cancellations, safety tips, guidance on meal and financial assistance, and free learning resources.
 These literacy resources are free for kids learning at home. Get all the latest resources & updates: tracking #COVID19, school closures & cancellations, safety tips, guidance on meal & financial assistance & free learning resources. https://bit.ly/2vJW6Fv #coronavirus
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 Cook County Family Connection Grapples with Growing Food Insecurity
Cook County Family Connection has focused efforts on emergency outreach to help those struggling to put food on the table throughout this pandemic. The Collaborative has established five tabletop pantries for residents to collect free food staples, and is distributing food and supplies to low-income senior citizens. These projects are proof of the power of collaboration.
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 Libraries Continue to Offer Resources During Pandemic
Georgia’s 408 public libraries are continuing to serve patrons, despite having to close their doors to promote public health—from loaning laptops to students to enable remote learning, to hosting online storytimes and book clubs, to suspending late fees. Some have added Wi-Fi hot spots or amplifiers so people can access the internet from their cars in closed library parking lots. Demand for libraries’ holdings have dramatically increased.
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 Savannah-Chatham County Teacher Keeps Kids Engaged
Empty classrooms aren't stopping teachers like Bynikini Frazier from finding ways to engage and educate. The third-grade teacher welcomes students each morning to a virtual classroom and helps them keep a schedule to stay up to date with coursework. Frazier also encourages family, friends, and neighbors to continue supporting communities. She works to bring “normal” back into students’ lives.
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 Head, Heart, and Hands: Collaborating to Create Positive School Climates
Garry McGiboney, deputy superintendent for the Office of School Safety and Climate at the Georgia Department of Education, noted that while a positive school climate is typically defined by less suspensions and discipline referrals combined with improved attendance and academic outcomes, many factors determine what a positive climate “looks like.” He explains why we need solutions, not remedies.
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Visit getgeorgiareading.org/coronavirus for a full list of timely resources.
Data-Driven Responses to COVID-19
Neighborhood Nexus continues to provide Georgians with access to data to drive decision-making. With the COVID-19 pandemic shining a light on systemic inequities and historic blindspots, Neighborhood Nexus has organized critical data and resources regarding Georgia’s most vulnerable populations, including health indicators, economic and workforce indicators, data regarding COVID-19 incidents and mortality, and a list of community resources.
Wide Open School Keeps Kids Learning While Schools are Closed
Wide Open School, a free collection of online learning experiences for kids, aims to make learning from home an experience that inspires kids, supports teachers, relieves families, and restores community. The site features resources for children in pre-K through grade 12 and offers suggested daily schedules with online and offline activities. The site features content developed by National Geographic, Sesame Workshop, noggin, Boys & Girls Club, and National Head Start Association, among others.
FoodFinder Mobile App Helps Address Food Insecurity
When a Georgia high school student saw a 2013 news story about a homeless family whose children often went hungry, he was inspired to act. The result is FoodFinder, a mobile app and website that helps students and families find free food assistance programs quickly.
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Mental Health Month
May 2020
Millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. The National Association of Mental Illness-Georgia is raising awareness of mental health by fighting stigma, providing support, educating the public, and advocating for policies that support people with mental illness and their families. Learn More
Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4 – 8, 2020
Teachers across Georgia are working to find new and innovative ways to support student learning remotely, and appreciation for their hard work and dedication is heightened as parents navigate at-home learning. Check out these popular ideas, printables, clip art, and planning tools to help celebrate all teachers in May and throughout the year. Learn More
GLR Learning Tuesdays Webinars
April 21 and 28; May 5, 12, and 19; 3 p.m.
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading’s (GLR) series of online learning events for the GLR Network helps lift up the best science, ideas, and programs to inform local efforts. Upcoming topics include state-level family engagement strategies, a new app to screen and identify young children with learning differences, and innovative efforts to increase childcare supply, affordability, and quality. Register Now
GLR Week (Virtual Event)
Monday – Friday, July 13 – 17
Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is converting GLR Week 2020 into a virtual event. Dive into a week of content-rich virtual exchanges with leaders and funders lifting up parents, philanthropy, and innovation as fuel for the continued pursuit of early school success for children in low-income families. Learn More
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We Want to Hear From You
Our partners are the heroes in this work, and we want to help connect you with each other and with resources that can help you get even greater results. And we want to hear more stories. Please share yours with us so we can post it to getgeorgiareading.org. Send your stories—or any questions about the Campaign—to Arianne Weldon at arianne@gafcp.org.
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