Dear Potential Early Reading First Applicant:

I wanted to let you know that the 2007 Early Reading First full application deadline is May 29^th. If your program is planning to apply for an Early Reading First grant using The Creative Curriculum^® for Preschool, the attached materials will assist you in the proposal process. The five attached documents will provide you with an overview of The Creative Curriculum literacy approach and help you answer specific questions on the Early Reading First grant application. 

The first document offers question-by-question guidance on how programs who use (or want to use) The Creative Curriculum can respond to various questions. While this document follows the format of the pre-application, it will also be helpful to you as you work on your full application.

The second document is an alignment that shows how the elements of our approach meet the requirements of the Early Reading First program.

The third document is a study that is referenced in the guidance document. It provides evidence of the effectiveness of The Creative Curriculum. 

Please note three things about the guidance document.

1) The document is intended as guidance and should not be cut and pasted into the proposal. This information should supplement the information you provide about your program and the ways you will strengthen it by using the Early Reading First grant.

2) The guidance document provides very specific information about The Creative Curriculum that will help you respond to the proposal questions. For those interested in a broader overview of the various elements of The Creative Curriculum literacy approach, I have attached a document entitled, "The Creative Curriculum^® Can Help Children Meet Early Reading First Goals." This document outlines the four main elements of The Creative Curriculum literacy approach and should be used with the guidance document as you respond to the proposal questions.

3) The guidance document does not provide comprehensive guidance on how the entire proposal should be completed. Successful applicants will be those who use this information to assist them with the curriculum questions and who also provide strong additional information about how their programs will improve literacy outcomes for preschool children.  

Last year, we helped several programs win Early Reading First grants. By working directly with your program throughout the application process, we hope to make your application successful. We look forward to working with you and are available to answer questions and provide assistance. Your direct contact at Teaching Strategies for Early Reading First questions will be Kelly Boyle.  Please do not hesitate to contact her by phone at 301-634-0818, x1748 or by e-mail at kellyb@teachingstrategies.com.

Download your Early Reading First documents today!

Thank you and good luck!

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Capizzano
Director of Public Policy and Research
Teaching Strategies, Inc.
5151 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20016
e-mail:
phone: 301-634-0842