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Not to Miss: 5 Children’s Books to Read this Summer 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Not to Miss: 5 Children’s Books to Read this Summer

With the final weeks of summer upon us, these children’s books are sure to keep your child’s interest in reading through to the first day of school and beyond. Our not-to-miss list includes books addressing cultural and linguistic diversity while including social experiences and events of daily life easy for kids to relate to. Featuring…

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Now Recruiting Minnesota Reading Corps Literacy Tutors 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Now Recruiting Minnesota Reading Corps Literacy Tutors

Would you love to help children grow their reading skills, succeed in school and get extra support? If your answer is yes, you can be trained to serve as a tutor with Minnesota Reading Corps at Way to Grow. Whether you want to explore an educational career, reenter the workforce, or give back to your community,…

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Hey Twins Fans! 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Hey Twins Fans!

Ever dreamed of throwing out the first pitch at a Twins game? Here’s your chance! United Way is fielding an all-star team of 100,000 volunteers this year to strike out poverty in this community. Get off the bench and volunteer! Sign up online between July 7-16 and you could win the chance to throw out…

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A Note to My Family Educator 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

A Note to My Family Educator

We received the following note from a recent graduate of our program and we couldn’t help but share!  Without a doubt, we have some of the best staff on the planet out there not only empowering parents and educating children, but truly becoming part of the families they work with. Hello, Today I am going to…

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What the Education Bill Promises the State’s Earliest Learners 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

What the Education Bill Promises the State’s Earliest Learners

After much debate, Governor Dayton and the Minnesota Legislature have passed the Education Bill with hopes of narrowing Minnesota’s achievement gap and ensuring all children receive the best education possible. The bill includes enacting free all-day Kindergarten, expanding access to early learning opportunities, and increasing funding for K-12 schools. Though the final bill does not…

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Honoring Dad 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Honoring Dad

Having recently celebrated Father’s Day, we couldn’t help but highlight the role of all the wonderful dads we see at Way to Grow. Social sciences have been examining the crucial role that fathers play in child development, family dynamics, and the overall well-being of their children for decades. Yet, one common stereotype persists: the notion…

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Social Impact Project Launches in Minneapolis 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Social Impact Project Launches in Minneapolis

A group of next generation philanthropists has come together to launch The New Impact Fund, a social impact project. We are excited to announce that Way to Grow is one of four family and childhood-focused programs included in the first round of social investments. “At Way to Grow, we’ve seen the lasting impact of developing…

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Minneapolis Mayor and Cabinet Release Cradle to K Plan 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Minneapolis Mayor and Cabinet Release Cradle to K Plan

Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges and her Cradle to K Cabinet released a final report detailing a plan to eliminate disparities for children in Minneapolis from birth to three years old. Hodges campaigned on her Cradle to K idea to close what she saw as a public health epidemic of children unprepared for kindergarten. “It’s a…

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Cradle to K Cabinet Releases Final Plan to Address Early Learning Disparities in Minneapolis 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Cradle to K Cabinet Releases Final Plan to Address Early Learning Disparities in Minneapolis

Mayor Hodges and the Cradle to K Cabinet released the final Cradle to K report outlining policy, legislative and collaborative recommendations for 2015 and beyond. “As much as possible, these recommendations are based on research and the prevailing best practices in the field and in our community.  We want to focus on what works.” -Mayor…

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Screening at Three 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Screening at Three

Way to Grow staff were happy to attend Training of Trainers, a new course developed through a partnership between Generation Next, Minnesota Departments of Education and Health, and several community partners. This training is part of Generation Next’s Kindergarten Readiness Action Plan, which includes an initial strategy of working through community partners in Saint Paul and Minneapolis to ensure every 3 year…

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Mayor Hodges, Cradle to K Cabinet to Release Final Plan to Eliminate Disparities for Minneapolis Children 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Mayor Hodges, Cradle to K Cabinet to Release Final Plan to Eliminate Disparities for Minneapolis Children

On Monday, May 18th at 1:30 p.m., Mayor Betsy Hodges and the Cradle to K Cabinet will release their final report which finalizes a plan to eliminate disparities for children in Minneapolis from birth to three years old. Prior to Monday’s release the Mayor and her cabinet met with over 200 community members in March and…

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The Starting Line 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

The Starting Line

“From the moment of conception to the initial, tentative step into a kindergarten classroom, early childhood development takes place at a rate that exceeds any other stage of life” (National Research Council & Institute of Medicine). It’s no secret that women who receive prenatal care in their first trimester of pregnancy (up to 12 weeks) tend…

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