Our blog

Literacy is a top priority because of YOU!

Dear Advocates + Friends: We cannot thank you enough for the calls, emails, letters and texts you sent to make early literacy a top priority during the 2024 General Assembly session. It truly was a team effort and it worked! There were hundreds of letters sent to legislators. Thanks in part to your advocacy, the […]

Books Improve Literacy Outcomes for ALL Children!

Books Improve Literacy Outcomes for ALL Children! Every child deserves access to age-appropriate, high-quality books that spark a love of reading + learning! Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Virginia (DPIL) – HB 1075 DPIL is a book gifting program that mails books to children before they enter kindergarten. The books come with tips and tools […]

Support Early Literacy for All Children!

Dear Advocates: It is budget time and legislators need to hear from you again! Thank you for all of your support of the literacy policy initiatives that are critical to building, implementing + investing in the Virginia Literacy Act(VLA) to help more children read by third grade. Recent data tells us that 1 in 6 […]

Help Secure A Big Win for VA Kids

Dear Advocates: The big game may be over, but it is “halftime” at the General Assembly. If we take action and run the right plays, we can secure big wins for our children, families, teachers and schools. The first eight years are a critical time in a child’s language and literacy development. A child’s ability […]

Learning Begins Early and Lasts a Lifetime

Dear Advocates + Friends: When I think back to my childhood, I was fortunate to grow up in a house filled with books, newspapers and people reading all around me and to me. We played word games, sang songs, made rhymes, talked about the books we read and had conversations. Every month I could not […]

A Celebration of Lisa Robertson’s Dedication to Children + Families

Dear Friends, This week we celebrate and honor the incredible life of an amazing advocate, leader, mother of five grown children, wife and friend.  Lisa Robertson was an active leader in women’s ministry, founded Changing Seasons, authored and led Bible studies, published an Advent guide and served on the boards of the Museum of the […]

Early Literacy in Early Learning Classrooms and @ Home

I was talking with a colleague the other day about how important early literacy is during the first five years. If you think about constructing a building, it begins with laying a strong foundation. That is exactly what we want to do when we help our children, families and teachers during the early years. It […]

How Does A Child Become A Reader?

It begins early. There are simple activities that you can do to build a strong foundation and love of reading. The experiences that children have at home and school play a critical role in literacy development. Research tells us that oral language skills, understanding of the alphabet and knowledge of print concepts are the biggest […]

Getting Ready for Kindergarten

Kindergarten Coming? Here are a few ways that you can make learning + reading fun for your family: Talk and encourage back and forth conversations. Help your child take turns listening, talking and asking questions. Read books together, ask questions about the story. Follow simple one-step directions, routines and express needs and wants with words. […]
Young children playing with number blocks

Toddler Brain Boosters

We often hear from parents and grandparents asking for ideas and fun things to do with toddlers or preschoolers. 90% of a child’s brain is developed by the age of five. These activities will help to boost your child’s language development, creativity and build early skills in math and reading. Make a sensory bin or […]

The Right to Read

Dear Friends: I attended a screening of the Right to Read at Norfolk State University last week. This is a documentary YOU do not want to miss. I cannot stop thinking about the documentary, it was masterful in identifying the many ways we have failed children, teachers and families. At the same time, it was […]

Where Are They Now?

William is a Bradley Family Scholar who is now in third grade. William recently placed first in the third grade science fair. In May, he was recognized by the School Board of the City of Norfolk for his outstanding achievements. His love of science began at The New E3 School with our science, technology, engineering, […]

Making Our Teachers Even Better Using the CLASS Tool.

Since opening our doors, the New E3 School has been all about innovation. About taking a fresh look at everything that has to do with early learning with open minds and open hearts. In that spirit, our school and our teachers made a commitment early on to fully integrate the CLASS program. CLASS – the […]

Mental Wellness May

Our teachers work with children in every classroom to help them learn to breathe, relax, reduce stress and calm their bodies.  They help children understand how to manage their emotions, work well with others and cooperate.  We try to equip children with strategies to manage stress.  And yes, children feel stress too.  A few of […]

Pushing for a Better Future

Dear Fellow Advocates, Last year we fought hard to help pass the Virginia Literacy Act, a landmark bill that will provide high-quality, evidence-based early education programs and interventions for grades K-3. It’s a great victory for Virginia’s kids and their future. But what about older kids who are struggling right now? Many of the children […]
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