Learning to Read and Write

Project R.E.A.D
Provides a series of suggested books and activities for parents and children to do together to promote healthy eating and strong families.    

International Children's Digital Library
This site offers a digital library of international children's books. The materials included in the collection reflect similarities and differences in cultures, societies, interests, lifestyles, and priorities of peoples around the world. The focus of the collection is on identifying materials that help children to understand the world around them and the global society in which they live.

Brain Wonders
This site shares information about healthy brain development in relation to early literacy skills and suggests ways in which parents and child care providers can continue to support a baby's overall development. The site provides an overview of early literacy, early literacy behaviors and resources for parents.

Iowa Public Television: Dragons, Dreams & Daring Deeds Program
Provides a guide for parents to help children get the most from their favorite programs and books. The site offers suggested reading material and educational programs and activities for children.

Every Child Reads:  3-5 Year Olds
This popular curriculum is helpful to parents interested in a knowing scientifically-based strategy to support early literacy. Includes a link to nursery rhyme sites.

Literacy Toolkit
A one-stop shop for literacy resources from the Head Start Bureau, including recommended children's books and an extensive bibliography.

Helping Your Preschool Child
A publication from the U.S. Department of Education with suggestions and activities to support early literacy in children ages birth to five. Also available in Spanish.

Parent Literacy Resources from the U.S. Department of Education
This link takes you to a resource page with a list of recommended reading resources for parents of young children.

Iowa Public Television Kids Clubhouse
This site offers a number of interactive games and activities that promote the practice of reading and writing skills.

Building Language & Literacy Skills
Provides ways of communicating with your baby such as through sounds, facial expressions, gestures and body language.

Iowa Public Television Zoom Iowa
Features program information that presents fun and educational activities for kids to do within their communities.

Iowa Public Television Explore More
This site provides information on the multimedia project designed to engage students in programs they can relate to and provide compelling topics for investigation, including reading and writing.

K-12 Classroom Television Resource
Provides a catalog of education television series on a whole range of topics for children on everything from animals to history to outer space. Includes extensive programming for language arts.

Iowa Public Television Parents Newsletter
A free weekly email newsletter that highlights IPTV education programs and resources specific to your child's interests and grade level.

Reading and Language
Provides strategies of listening, writing, reading, talking and age-specific literacy activities to engage in with your child. (Also available in Spanish)

PBS Parents: Bookfinder
A book searching method that allows parents to search by age of the child, theme of the book or interest of the child and whether the book is intended to be read aloud or alone.  

Iowa Public Television Mississippi River Project
Resource that specializes in designing and developing technology-based projects that support K-12 curricula in science, math, language arts, and social studies.

AAP Literacy Kit
This site is meant to introduce a wide variety of strategies and tools to support the mission of promoting child development and future school success. There are evidence based tips for parents available in a variety of languages for parents of all reading levels, posters, book lists for a variety of ages and topics, and links to many helpful resources.