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Preschool Reading Book Wish List 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Preschool Reading Book Wish List

Way to Grow Preschool teachers compiled this list of preschool reading books essential to any little one’s library. You will recognize many of these preschool reading books as early childhood favorites. Unfortunately, we know many of the children in our program lack access to these books and many like them. We also know that a pathway to…

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Parent Education – Our Message to Parents 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Parent Education – Our Message to Parents

Way to Grow Partners with Local Newspaper in Launching Parent Education Section Way to Grow is happy to announce our partnership with the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. As a contributing partner to the new parent education section, Message to Parents, we will focus on the most critical issues affecting the communities we serve. In order for parents to fulfill…

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Promoting Early Literacy Development – Tips for Parents 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Promoting Early Literacy Development – Tips for Parents

At its core, early literacy development begins with what children know about reading and writing long before they themselves can read and write. Here are a few tips to help promote early literacy development at home: 1. Enjoy more conversation Make the most of the time you spend with your child by simply talking and listening to…

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Meet Mr. Barry 2055 1566 Ivy Marsnik

Meet Mr. Barry

Every Wednesday for the past year, 12-15 Way to Grow preschool children cannot wait to see Mr. Barry’s friendly smile when they arrive at school. Mr. Barry volunteers as a Preschool Literacy Tutor at the Way to Grow Preschool in South Minneapolis. “I love reading to the kids,” he says, “I get to the preschool…

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Looking to the Second Generation – How Transformative is Early Ed? 2560 1707 Ivy Marsnik

Looking to the Second Generation – How Transformative is Early Ed?

Imagine a three-year old girl, born into poverty. Her parents may not have finished high school and statistically, it’s even less likely anyone from her family has ever graduated college. Let’s say she defies the odds and graduates high school on time, but shortly after, she becomes pregnant. She seeks help and finds herself at…

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Celebrating Social Innovation Month – Our Initial Findings 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Celebrating Social Innovation Month – Our Initial Findings

In 2013, Way to Grow was selected as one of six (SIF) fund recipients in the Twin Cities, which included a $100,000 investment from the Social Innovation Fund to expand our Great by Eight home visiting model. The goal of this project is to determine if the Way to Grow Great by Eight program is a scalable, replicable model for early childhood…

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Equity in Education – What Does it Look Like?

Equity in Education – What Does it Look Like? 1707 2560 Ivy Marsnik
Way to Grow Presents Dr. Mary Hinton on the Key to School and Life Success 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Way to Grow Presents Dr. Mary Hinton on the Key to School and Life Success

Mark your calendars! Dr. Mary Dana Hinton, 15th president of the College of Saint Benedict will deliver a keynote address at the Way to Grow Spring Luncheon. In a time of challenges, her one hope is to improve access to education – starting early, providing families with holistic support with access to intentional programs as…

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Second Grade Success 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Second Grade Success

Since Kindergarten, Shamsa, Asma’s Way to Grow Family Educator, has been working with Asma on picture naming and vocabulary. A native Somali speaker, Asma was also enrolled in an Arabic program which initially, made English Language Learning even more challenging. Shamsa persisted, encouraging mom to attend ELL classes, to read daily with her children, and…

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Education – Where the Candidates Stand 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Education – Where the Candidates Stand

With the primary election in full swing, we’ve heard a lot of talk from the candidates on other pressing issues, but what are their views on education? No matter who you support, or which party you belong to, education affects the prosperity of us all as individuals, as communities, and as a nation. Here’s where…

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Best in Class 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

Best in Class

April of 2013, then four-year-old Davion knew just two colors and the first letter of his name. Recognizing Davion was slightly behind, Tonia, Davion’s Family Educator got right to work. Tonia referred the family to Way to Grow Preschool Pals and began increasing home visits to get Davion caught up before he started school. After…

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ESSA – Three Things to Know 150 150 Ivy Marsnik

ESSA – Three Things to Know

Eight years after No Child Left Behind (NCLB) went into effect, congress has passed a revision to the bill to allow states to reclaim control over much of their education policies. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), signed into law on December 10, will take full effect at the start of the 2016-2017 school year.…

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