Create the Spark! A WordsWork! Teacher's Tale
I enjoy doing story time sessions with the groups of children. One of my favorite story time readings is Caps for Sale, during which I introduce my monkey puppet, Mookey. I read the story with lots of enthusiasm and fluency, almost knowing it by heart. After I finished reading this story recently, I invited each of the children to come up and give Mookey a hug if they chose. One little girl was called up and, after giving Mookey a big hug, she looked at me very thoughtfully and said, “Ms. Marin, when I’m a grown-up, I want to read that book just like you do.”

Words Work is all about creating a spark in children that will help foster not just the mechanics of reading, but also the LOVE of reading.

The Program
Words Work! is an early literacy project, developed by The Saint Paul Foundation, that is successfully closing the achievement gap for children in preschool and beyond. The Words Work! pilot project began in 1999 with 22 teachers. Nine years later, it serves more than 2,500 children annually in Head Start programs across Minnesota. The following principles are key to a successful early literacy program when applied consistently and for each child:

• Surround the Child with Literacy
• Respect Home Culture and Language
• Teach the Teachers
• Use Assessment for Continuous Improvement

The children in Words Work! classrooms are three to five years old, many speak a language other than English at home, and the majority of their families have very low incomes.

Words Work! partners with Head Start programs to provide specific supports and resources to ensure that each child acquires the skills that lead to success in learning to read. Teachers receive customized training and mentoring, materials and equipment. Ongoing support for families is provided through integration of literacy into family and parent events and meetings; books, materials and information sent home in English and home languages.

Parents and Teachers Voice Their Support

“When my child comes home, we would look in his bag and find a book to read. I cannot read and so I would point to the characters in the book to see what its characters name is. If they are animals, I would ask what kind of animal they are. My child would then try to answer my questions.” (A Words Work! parent)

“My intentionality has changed – now I look at how I prepare the classroom for kids. If the kids don’t like the classroom arrangement, or if it doesn’t work for them, I change it…I feed off the kids, get ideas from them.” (A Words Work! teacher)

“The attitudes of the teachers are great. I feel they really want to help my child learn.” (A Words Work! parent)

To continue expanding the program to additional classrooms and ensuring that even more children are equipped with the literary skills they need to succeed, please consider making a contribution to Words Work! Your gift could help in many ways (see side bar).

In supporting Words Work! you are helping prepare the youngest Minnesotans to succeed. Thank you!