The Giving Tree is turning 16 this year! We at Mesa County Libraries are so thankful for our long-standing partnership with Grand Valley Catholic Outreach as we continue to offer this unique winter giving opportunity. Each year, Catholic Outreach gathers applications starting in October until mid November. All recipients of Giving Tree gifts are Catholic […]
Continue readingAuthor Archive: Rose Marie Fraser
New Gardener in Residence at Mesa County Libraries Discovery Garden
Be on the lookout for a jovial presence in the Discovery Garden at Mesa County Libraries from now until September 20th of this year. The new Gardener in Residence at Mesa County Libraries, Zachary Freeburg, has already started showcasing his hospitality and gardening skills. If you find yourself exploring the different varieties of permaculture in […]
Continue readingDownloadable map: Downtown StoryWalk® highlights One Book Colorado
A fun new part of the One Book Colorado celebration at Mesa County Libraries is our first-ever StoryWalk® in Downtown Grand Junction. StoryWalk® is a library program that has been successfully implemented by libraries throughout the country. Its goal is to promote reading for all ages in an outdoor setting. Individual pages of a story […]
Continue readingWalk Before You Run: Early Literacy Tips for Letter Knowledge
Walking is hard. Learning how to walk is even harder. Caregivers can relate to the incredible journey a baby goes through as they build the muscles to learn how to sit up, stand up, and then eventually walk. Learning how to read is a similar journey that also takes time. Before reading a paragraph we […]
Continue readingSTOP! In the Name of Reading: Early Literacy Tips
I know it might be shocking, especially coming from a library blog, but reading isn’t just about books. It’s about lifelong learning. Reading enables us to fully live and participate in the world around us. As we’re helping children learn how to read, consider all of the ways we communicate with words that don’t even […]
Continue readingSing With Me: Early Literacy Tips
Twinkle twinkle little star, we don’t care how good your voices are. What do we care about? Singing and how it helps children learn language, vocabulary, and early literacy skills. So please we implore you, no matter your voice, sing to your children. Phonological awareness, as an early literacy skill, means that children are able […]
Continue readingHow Talk Can Help With Early Literacy Skills
Telling stories orally is the way that we, as humans, initially communicated to each other. It’s also the first way that children will start to learn about the world. It’s through the sounds, noises, and world they see around them that helps them learn how to communicate. Communication is also the essential reason we need […]
Continue readingA Child’s First Teacher
Learning and growth in a child’s life is constant. Their first teacher is their parents, guardians, or caregivers. The community and world around them also contribute a great deal to a child’s growth. Learning in early life before school comes in the form of speaking, playing, interacting, and exploring the world. The formal name that […]
Continue readingLet’s Play! The Power of Playing With our Children
The world’s current situation is forcing so many of us to look at the world in a new way. How can we do our jobs differently? How do we change our home dynamic to fit all of these new Covid structures? While this may be difficult, it can also be a blessing. No matter how […]
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