Develop a Great Relationship with Teachers by Asking These Questions

As a new school year begins, it’s necessary to develop a strong partnership with your child’s teacher. Start by asking your child’s new teacher about schedules, routines, and policies; learning and culture in the classroom; and communication and support. The following questions will help lay the groundwork for…

Children’s Literacy Initiative & W.K. Kellogg Foundation Partner in a Significant Way

Philadelphia, Pa. — Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI), a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Philadelphia, has been awarded a $250,000 grant by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Mich. Between June 1, 2016 to November 30, 2017, the grant will help to improve teacher instructional practice by providing…

Spectacular Book Series for Summer & Beyond

Everyone loves a good series.  For children, reading books in a series provides opportunities to visit familiar characters, settings, and plot structures multiple times. Summer is a crucial and important time for kids to keep up their reading skills, and getting hooked on a great series can be…

Children’s Literacy Initiative Receives Three-Year Grant from Pew

Philadelphia, May 4 — Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI), a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working with educators locally and nationally to get more children reading proficiently by 3rd grade, announces that it has been awarded a grant by The Pew Charitable Trusts to increase the number of Philadelphia-area pre-kindergarten classrooms…

3 Great Tips for Story-time with Your Toddler

Toddlers love to hear their parents read out loud. Story time combines some of your child’s favorite things: snuggling, interesting illustrations, and your voice. At this age, story time can be more interactive. Your toddler can repeat favorite phrases, request multiple readings of a favorite book, and point…

4 Exceptional Non-Fiction Books

Offering students a balance of fiction and nonfiction reading experiences has always been important.  Since the publication of the Common Core State Standards, which emphasize the use of both kinds of text, informational picture books have gotten more and more attention.  And the attention is well deserved.  Though…

Key Tips for Spring Cleaning in Your Classroom

Spring cleaning is a time honored tradition with roots in many global religions and cultures. Jewish people clean their homes before Passover. Every year on the spring equinox, Iranians participate in spring cleaning in honor of Now Rouz (the new year). The Chinese also participate in spring cleaning…

Children’s Literacy Initiative & Wells Fargo Collaborate to Impact Children in Philadelphia

Philadelphia, March 24, 2016—Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Philadelphia, and Wells Fargo, a diversified, community-based financial services company, have partnered to help transform literacy instruction to ensure children in Philadelphia read proficiently by third grade. Wells Fargo presented CLI with a $50,000 check,…

Children’s Literacy Initiative & American Airlines Partner to Get More Children Reading

PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 16, 2016 —  Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Philadelphia, and American Airlines, the world’s largest airline, are partnering to help more of the nation’s children read proficiently by third grade. Employees and executives on American’s Citizenship Steering Committee at the airlines’…

Read It Again, Please! The Benefits of Repeated Read Alouds.

Any parent who owns a copy of Goodnight Moon knows that there are some books children can listen to over and over (and over!) again. Teachers know this, too. Knuffle Bunny. Click, Clack, Moo.  Amazing Grace. These books never grow old. Children seem to feel for Trixie, root for…