Upper Peninsula Birth to Five Literacy Network
Supporting communities across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with early literacy resources.
Ensuring all children are ready to learn, read, and succeed!
What is Early Literacy?
Literacy is the ability to read, write, speak and listen in a way that lets us communicate effectively and make sense of the world. Building a child’s vocabulary, self expression and ability to understand are all ways to create a solid foundation so a child has skills necessary for school success.
The early years matter. Early childhood is one of the most enjoyable and important times in a child’s life. Babies are born ready and wired to learn. Their development is moving at light speed! Every experience builds important connections in their brain for all future learning. In fact, 90 percent of brain development happens in the first five years of life! Parents are a child’s first and most important teacher. Parents and caregivers are supporting future reading skills before a child can talk. Research shows children learn best through play and loving interactions with their primary caretakers. Every day is filled with teachable moments that create a deep connection with a child and nurtures their early literacy skills. Ensuring children have strong early literacy skills sets them up for success building their confidence to become lifelong learners.
Summary
- Early literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they can read or write.
- Literacy development begins at birth.
- Children develop early literacy skills in the first three years of life.
- Early literacy is not early reading.
- Early literacy skills include these important foundational skills. They are the building blocks for learning to read and write.
- Print Motivation — taking an interest in and enjoying books
- Vocabulary — knowing the names of things
- Print Awareness — a child’s ability to point to the words on the page of a book
- Narrative Skills — a child understands and can tell a story and describe things
- Letter Knowledge — the ability to recognize and name letters (upper and lower case) and produce the sounds they make
- Phonological Awareness — the ability to work with sounds in spoken language
How can I help my child?
Helping your child learn literacy skills doesn’t have to be boring. You do not need flash cards or fancy toys. Evidence shows children learn best through play with their caretakers. Talking, reading, singing, writing and playing with a child is the very best way to help develop the skills they will need for school success. It’s all about having fun and creating a love for learning. Loving interactions with adults is a key component in helping a child’s brain reach its full potential. It is also an important way to develop social emotional skills which are as important to learning as their ABC’s.
- Kindergarten Readiness Booklet Great Start developed a booklet to help guide parents in understanding school expectations and ways to develop these skills with their children.
- Language and Literacy for Little Ones The General Educational Literacy Network developed this guide for families on ways to to build these skills at home.
- Create a Love for Learning with your child!
- Raising A Reader Menominee County Great Start Collaborative created a free online parent education class to help parents get their kids ready and eager to learn.
- The State of Michigan created the Top Ten Early Literacy Essentials to improve children’s reading scores. Research suggests that the practices outlined in the documents below can have a positive impact on children.
Michigan's Third Grade Reading Law
In 2016, The Michigan Legislature passed the Read by Grade Three Law requiring children to read proficiently by the end of third grade. This is a crucial time when academics switch from children learning to read to reading to learn.
Studies show that children who fall behind academically tend to remain behind throughout their school years. Those being raised by families facing barriers to economic stability are at even greater risk. These children often struggle with reading throughout their entire lives. Children who experience challenges with reading at the end of first grade are much more likely to experience challenges with reading at the end of fourth grade. To address this, Michigan schools now identify at-risk children in kindergarten and support their learning through Individualized Reading Improvement Plans (IRIP). These plans also include strong parental support at home. Parents can ensure their children will be ready to learn by working with them on these important skills as early as possible, as suggested by Essential Literacy Practices.
Initially, Michigan’s Read by Grade Three law contained a component stating students who were more than one grade level behind at the end of third grade may need to repeat third grade. In March 2023, Governor Whitmer removed this requirement. All other supports remain in place. At-risk student progress will be measured through their Individualized Reading Improvement Plans and a statewide assessment called Michigan’s Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) which is given to students in grades 3 to 8 each spring. Schools will continue providing necessary support and interventions to ensure student reading success.
If you have concerns about your child's reading talk to your child's teacher and access the many resources available through this website to help them at home.
Video thumbnail: Understanding the Need for Michigan’s Read by Grade Three Law (2:00)
Connect with your Great Start Collaborative for local literacy events, resources and information
Alger
Munising School Public Library - 810 State Highway M-28 West, Munising, (906) 387-2125
Baraga
L'Anse School Public Library - 201 North Fourth Street, L'Anse, (906) 524-6213
Ojibwa Community Library - 409 S. Superior Ave, Baraga, (906) 353-8163
Chippewa
DeTour Area School and Public Library - 202 South Division Street, Detour Village, (906) 297-2011
Drummond Island Library - 29934 E. Court Street, Drummond Island, (906) 493-5243
Mollie R. Kahl Community Library (Rudyard Public Library) - 11185 W. Second Street, Rudyard, (906) 478-4504
Pickford Community Library - 230 East Main Street, Pickford, (906) 647-1288
Superior District Library (Bayliss Public Library) - 541 Library Drive, Sault Ste. Marie, (906) 632-9331
Whitefish Township Community Library - 7247 North M-123, Paradise, (906) 492-3500
Delta
Escanaba Public Library - 400 Ludington Street, Escanaba, (906) 789-7332
Gladstone School & Public Library - 300 South Tenth Street, Gladstone, (906) 428-4224
Bay de Noc Community College - 2001 N Lincoln Road, Escanaba, (906)-217-4055
Big Bay de Noc School Library - 8928 Oo.25 Road, Cooks, (906) 252-4500
Dickinson
Dickinson County Library - 401 Iron Mountain Street, Iron Mountain, (906) 774-1218
Dickinson County Library - Solomonson Branch - 620 Section Street, Norway, (906) 774-1218
Dickinson County Library - North Dickinson Branch - W6588 N M-69, Felch, (906) 774-1218
Gogebic
Bessemer Public Library - 411 South Sophie Street, Bessemer, (906) 667-0404
Ironwood Carnegie Library - 235 East Aurora Street, Ironwood, (906) 932-0203
Marenisco Township Library - 321 Fair Avenue, Marenisco, (906) 787-2501
Wakefield Public Library - 401 Hancock Street, Wakefield, (906) 229-5236
Houghton
Calumet Public School Library - 57070 Mine Street, Calumet, (906) 337-0311
Hancock School Public Library - 501 Campus Drive, Hancock, (906) 483-2544 ext 8005
Osceola Township School Public Library - 48475 Maple Drive, Dollar Bay, (906) 482-5800
Portage Lake District Library - 58 Huron Street, Houghton, (906) 482-4570
Iron
Crystal Falls District Community Library - 237 Superior Avenue, Crystal Falls, (906) 875-3344
West Iron District Library - 116 West Genesee Street, Iron River, (906) 265-2831
Luce
Tahquamenon Area Public Library - 700 Newberry Avenue, Newberry, (906) 293-5214
Mackinac
Brevort Township Public Library - 1941 Church Road, Moran, (906) 643-8098
Curtis Library - N. 9220 Portage Avenue, Curtis, (906) 586-9411
Engadine Public Library - W13920 Melville Street, Engadine, (906) 477-6313
Les Cheneaux Library - 75 Hodeck Street, Cedarville, (906) 484-3547
Mackinac Island Public Library - 7549 Huron, Mackinac Island, (906) 847-3421
Saint Ignace Public Library - 110 West Spruce Street, Saint Ignace, (906) 643-8318
Marquette
Forsyth Township Public Library - 180 West Flint Street, Gwinn, (906) 346-3433
Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library - 317 North Main Street, Ishpeming, (906) 486-4381
Negaunee Public Library - 319 West Case Street, Negaunee, (906) 475-7700
Peter White Public Library - 217 North Front Street, Marquette, (906) 228-9510
Republic-Michigamme Public Library - 227 Maple Street, Republic, (906) 376-2277
Richmond Township Library - 304 Snyder Street, Palmer, (906) 475-5241
Menominee
Menominee County Library - S319 Railroad Street, Stephenson, (906) 753-6923
Menominee County Library Hermansville Branch - W5480 1st Street, Hermansville, (906) 498-2253
Spies Public Library - 940 First Street, Menominee, (906) 863-3911
Nah Tah Wahsh Public School Library - N14911 Hannahville B-1 Road, Wilson, (906)466-2952
Ontonagon
Carp Lake Township Library - 35349 Mall Circle Drive, White Pine, (906) 885-5888
McMillan Township Library - 200 Cedar Street, Ewen, (906) 988-2515
Ontonagon Township Library - 311 North Steel Street, Ontonagon, (906) 884-4411
Schoolcraft
Big Bay de Noc School Library - 8928 Oo.25 Road, Cooks, (906) 252-4500
Manistique School & Public Library - 100 N. Cedar St., Room #31, Manistique, (906) 341-4316
Baraga /Houghton/Keweenaw Counties
- StoryWalk Lending Library - Copper Country Great Start Collaborative
- 850 W. Sharon Avenue Suite 6, Houghton, MI
- Contact Information:
- 906-482-9365
- greatstartparent@gmail.com
- ccgreatstart.org
- Contact Information:
- 850 W. Sharon Avenue Suite 6, Houghton, MI
Chippewa County
- EUPISD Learning Center - Coming Summer 2023
- 15901 Country Club Drive, Kincheloe, MI
- Sault Ste. Marie-Power Canal Trail Across from CC Hall
- 201 Sheridan Dr Sault, MI
- Soo Township Learning Center/Malcolm High School Nature Trail- Coming Summer 2023
- 5788 M-129, Sault Ste. Marie, MI
- Rudyard Township Park
- 18725 S Mackinac Trl Rudyard, MI
- Pickford Township Park
- 287 Harold St Pickford, MI
Delta County
- Bark River Sports Complex-Hannahville Hiking Trail behind the baseball diamond
- 11.5 Rd, Bark River, MI
- Contact Information:
- 906-466-2331
- Escanaba Public Library
- 400 Ludington Street, Escanaba MI
- Contact Information
- 906-789-7332
- escanabalibrary.org
- Contact Information
- 400 Ludington Street, Escanaba MI
- Delta-Schoolcraft Great Start Collaborative Mobile Book Walk Lending Library
- 2525 3rd Ave S, Escanaba, MI
- Contact Information
- 906-786-9300 ext. 111
- lmold@dsisd.net
- great-start.org
- Contact Information
- 2525 3rd Ave S, Escanaba, MI
Luce
- Tahquamenon Area School-Coming Summer 2023
- 700 Newberry Ave Newberry, MI
Mackinac
- Snows Heritage Park Walking Path
- 207 N Blindline Rd Cedarville, MI
- American Legion Park (Red, White, & Blue Park)
- 200 N State St St. Ignace, MI
Menominee
- Henes Park -located behind Pavillion #1 on the trail
- 100 Henes Park Drive, Menominee, MI
- Contact Information:
- 906-863-5665 ext. 1028
- shanson@mc-isd.org
- greatstartmenomineecounty.org
- Contact Information:
- 100 Henes Park Drive, Menominee, MI
Schoolcraft
- St Francis de Sale School
- 210 Lake St, Manistique, MI
- Contact Information:
- 906-341-5512
- sfdsraiders.com
- Contact Information:
- 210 Lake St, Manistique, MI
- Delta-Schoolcraft Great Start Collaborative Moble Book Walk Lending Library
- 2525 3rd Ave S, Escanaba, MI
- Contact Information:
- 906-786-9300 ext. 111
- lmold@dsisd.net
- great-start.org
- Contact Information:
- 2525 3rd Ave S, Escanaba, MI
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
Resources
Research based tips and information that help grow children’s brains and skills from birth.
Family Resources
Provider Resources
A free Lending Library with learning bins and materials available to families and providers for check out.