Inside This Issue:

Reading Predicts Success

LFL Has Books For All

Governor Visits Local Child Care

FRANKLIN-GRANVILLE-VANCE

SMART START

Building Brighter Futures for Children

March 2017

Our mission is to support and

strengthen the abilities of families

and communities to nurture child

development so that our children can

enter school healthy and ready to

succeed.

Ten Reasons Why You Should Read To Your Children

1. A stronger relationship with

you. Reading will become a

nurturing activity that will bring

the two of you closer together.

2. Academic excellence.

Numerous studies have shown

that students who are exposed to

reading before preschool are

more likely to do well in all

facets of formal education.

3. Basic speech skills. By

reading with your child, they

learn critical language and

enunciation skills.

4. The basics of how to read a

book. Children aren’t born

with an innate knowledge that

text is read from left to right, or

that the words on a page are

separate from the images.

5. Better communication

skills. When you spend time

reading to toddlers, they’ll be

much more likely to express

themselves and relate to others in

a healthy way.

6. Mastery of language. Ear ly reading

for toddlers has been linked to a better

grasp of the fundamentals of language as

they approach school age.

7. More logical thinking skills. The

importance of reading to children is their

ability to grasp abstract concepts, apply

logic, recognize cause and effect, and

utilize good judgment.

8. Adapting to new experiences.

Sharing a relevant story is a great way to

help ease the transition to new or stress-

ful experiences.

9. Enhanced concentration and

discipline. Along with reading com-

prehension comes stronger self-

discipline, longer attention span, and

better memory retention.

10. The knowledge that reading is fun!

Kids who are exposed to reading are

much more likely to choose books over

video games, television, and other forms

of entertainment.

“The more that

you read, the

more things

you will know.

The more that

you learn, the

more places

you'll go.”

― Dr. Seuss

Page 2

Reading Predicts Later Success

Little Free Libraries Are Busy

North Carolina is facing a growing skills gap. By 2020, 68 percent of jobs in the state will require some

post-secondary education. Yet, the majority of North Carolina fourth graders are not proficient in the single

greatest predictor of high school graduation and later success – reading.

Only 35% of North Carolina fourth graders and 22% of students from economically disadvantaged families

scored at or above reading proficiency on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in

2013.

Reading in the early grades predicts high school and later success. Those who read well go on to graduate,

but those who aren’t reading well by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high

school. From a societal standpoint, every student that drops out of high school costs the nation an estimated

$260,000 in lost earnings, taxes and productivity.

Recognizing the importance of third grade reading outcomes, the North Carolina General Assembly passed

Read to Achieve as part of the Excellent Public Schools Act. Under this law, third grade students who are

not reading at grade level by the end of third grade receive additional help to make sure that they can read

well enough to do fourth-grade work. The law has shown a much-needed spotlight on a complex challenge.

Progress will take sustained and aligned public and private action toward a shared purpose.

For North Carolina to prosper, each child needs the best opportunity to succeed, to realize his/her

potential and contribute as a productive citizen.

The Little Free Library (LFL) is a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange. The “libraries” come

in many shapes and sizes, but the most common version is a small wooden box of books. Anyone may

take a book or bring a book to share. The Little Free Library will be for children as well as adults.

The sites of the libraries are at the Aycock Recreation Center, Shiloh Baptist Church on College street,

West End school/Senior Housing at the corner of Chestnut street and Granite street, and at the Henderson

Family YMCA entrance. LFL is a book exchange. Bring a book from home to leave for someone else to

read. If you do not have something from home to bring, just return the book you borrowed.

Some examples of donated

books for the Little Free

Libraries. At left, books for

children, and right, books

for adults.

Franklin-Granville-Vance Page 3

FGV Board Retreat

Governor Cooper Visits Local Childcare Program

FGV Smart Start board of directors

met in March at the Granville County

Convention Center. Executive

Director Dr. Tony Cozart discussed

the impact of Smart Start programs in

the community and how to make

Smart start more relevant in the lives

of families with young children.

Week Of Young Child April 24-29

Recently Governor Roy Cooper visited the five star rated Saint Paul’s Presbyterian Childcare program

in Louisburg. Children at the program entertained the Governor with recitations of the states of the

Union, names of the planets of the solar system, the names of all the Presidents of the United States,

counting in Spanish, as well as songs and poems. Governor Cooper also spoke about his proposals for

the upcoming State budget, which will include increases for education, from birth to post-

secondary. FGV Smart Start was on hand to introduce the Governor to Smart Start’s efforts in early

childhood education as well as to discuss issues related to providing continued quality programs to our

youngest citizens.

The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration hosted by the National Association for the

Education of Young Children (NAEYC) celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers and

families. FGV Smart Start will have activities all week to showcase local efforts and services serving our

young children. Our activities for that week are:

Monday, April 24th: Planting a Pinwheel Garden to celebrate Prevent Child Abuse NC.

Tuesday, April 25th: Time Out Tuesday, local par ticipants will raise funds for Smart Star t.

Wednesday, April 26th: Reading day, Smar t Star t will enroll children in Imagination Library.

Thursday, April 27th: Health Day, Smar t Star t will offer ‘healthy snacks” and physical activity at

a child care site ( to be announced later).

Saturday, April 29th: Kindergar ten Readiness Forum will be held at South Henderson Pentecostal

Holiness Church

125 Charles Rollins Road

P. O. Box 142

Henderson, North Carolina 27536

Phone: 252-433-9110

Fax: 252-433-9230

Email: gdaeke@vance.net Franklin-Granville-Vance Smart Start ….

We’re On The Web!

www.fgvpartnership.org

administers Smart Start funds from the state

legislature to support programs to benefit children

age 0-5 and their families.

is a catalyst for bringing different groups together

for the sake of the children.

educates the community on the critical needs of

young children and helps develop solutions.

FGV Smart Start

Early Intervention Tip Of The Month

Need Help Paying For Child Care?

Is your child meeting their developmental milestones during their first year?

1st month— Lifts head when on tummy, looks at faces

2nd month– Makes sounds, coos and gurgles, follows objects with eyes

3rd month– Recognizes your face, holds head steady and upright

4th month-Smiles, laughs

5th month-Holds out arms to be held, likes to play peek-a-boo

6th month-copies sounds, rolls over in both directions

For more information about your child’s early development, call the Durham Children’s

Developmental Services Agency at 1-877-396-8464.

Child Care Resource and Referral is an in-house service provider for Franklin-

Granville-Vance Smart Start. We provide referrals of healthy, safe, and quality child

care to parents. We can help parents have peace of mind by knowing their child or

children are being cared for by a quality child care or home child care provider. With

our extensive referral database and child care resource subsidy information, we can be

of great service. For more information on child care information call:

1-855-Early Ed ( 327-5933)