Saint Louis Public Schools

Volunteers visit Pre-Kindergarten classes weekly, build a special bond with children, and give each child his/her own intentionally selected set of 7 books to take home and add to his/her home library. 

Teachers consistently say that in addition to increasing pre-reading skills, Ready Readers expands interest in literacy and supports a love of learning. 

Teachers can opt to participate in the Magic House Book SMArt program. When enrolled, each class will:

-Receive 2 classroom visits from Magic House staff, 
-Listen to a book related to science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) during each visit and create art,
-Take a special field trip to The Magic House, where students can engage in selected math, art, engineering, and literacy activities. 

During a 16-session classroom residency, a Teaching Artist and an early childhood educator partner together to translate instructional goals into performing arts strategies designed to meet the objectives of the teacher and the classroom curriculum. 

Within this collaboration, early childhood educators gain an understanding of the important connection between the performing arts and a child’s learning process. By observing and participating in the Teaching Artist’s lessons with the children, as well as developing and implementing their own arts-integrated lessons, the teacher gains the experience, confidence, and skills necessary to integrate the arts into the curriculum and daily routine.

Classroom teachers learn how performing arts' integrated strategies and techniques foster children’s growth in all development domains, including:

• Emergent literacy • Creative problem-solving and critical thinking • Expressive and receptive language development • Self-awareness, self-confidence, and self-regulation • Large and small muscle coordination and body awareness • Exploration of individual creativity • Social and emotional development • Motivation and enthusiasm for learning • Cognitive skills

Springboard also offers children ages birth to three years, along with their teachers, parents and caregivers, the opportunity to take part in a Baby Artsplay!™ residency program in their community.

Designed for our youngest learners in SLPS, this program provides children ages birth to three, and the early childhood educators who care for them, with a holistic early childhood music, movement and drama program designed to support the children’s intellectual, language/emergent literacy, social, emotional, and physical development.

As a professional learning cohort, a group of teachers opted to enhance their professional knowledge regarding Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling. "LETRS^®" for Early Childhood Educators provides deep knowledge of literacy instruction for the youngest learners.

Studies show that pre-K and kindergarten prepare children to thrive in school and accelerate their learning. Even at this early stage of learning, independent experts agree that "a well-implemented, evidence-based curriculum" and an emphasis on the quality and continuous training of early childhood educators leads to success in the classroom.

While LETRS is required for Missouri teachers starting in kindergarten, the SLPS Pre-K program is proud to embrace phonics as part of our core instruction in literacy.

Drawn In is a series of epic adventure stories set in a bustling Midwestern city. It follows the exploits of four kids who unabashedly love comic books. 

In every adventure, their real worlds collide with the comic world. Colorful heroes, villains, robots, and other fanciful creatures escape from the comic books' pages. The kids use problem-solving and literacy skills to set their world right again from cartoon mayhem!

Stories are shared through animated video shorts, print and digital comic books, and a website with educational games for kids. 

This site includes links to resources for educators and grown-ups that encourage co-viewing and help families build literacy activities into their everyday lives.