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Welcome to the Way to Grow blog! Here you’ll find parenting tips, early childhood resources, and stories from home visits across the Twin Cities. We believe parents are their child’s first and most important teacher, and our home visiting model is built around that: bringing tools, activities, and encouragement right into the home. Browse for book recommendations, everyday learning ideas, program updates, and family stories from across our community.

Success Story: Amy 150 150 Way to Grow

Success Story: Amy

Amy was a very shy and quiet child who rarely smiled and never even spoke to her own family. Amy’s mother had recently passed away, and her brother and constant companion had autism. Amy’s father, Dave, knew he needed help with her development. He knew Amy was very behind academically and socially. So he called…

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With a Little Help from our Friends 150 150 Way to Grow

With a Little Help from our Friends

On Friday afternoon, a group of volunteers helped install our new Preschool PALS location on the campus of Urban Ventures in South Minneapolis. It was tough for everyone not to get distracted by all the fun books and games, but we managed to assemble, sort, and install most everything we’ll need. Thanks especially to the…

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A Very Special Delivery 150 150 Way to Grow

A Very Special Delivery

Yesterday, we received a very special delivery: a collection of bilingual board books in Spanish and Somali! The books were purchased with funds raised through our yearly Santa Claus appearance at Magers and Quinn Booksellers in Uptown, Minneapolis. Pictured above: Gary Mazzone, ‎Outreach & Sales Director at Magers and Quinn Booksellers; Elizabeth Fields; Jenny Donovan; Carolyn…

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Success Story: Luis 150 150 Way to Grow

Success Story: Luis

Luis was a very smart and active bilingual 5-year-old boy. When his family educator, Eveline, started meeting with his family, his mom, Maria, expressed concern about his speech and behavior. His preschool teacher had informed her that Luis needed help, so she had him take the Early-Childhood Screening for Minneapolis Public Schools. He passed these…

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Valentine Fun at WTG 150 150 Way to Grow

Valentine Fun at WTG

We sure had fun getting crafty for Valentine’s Day. Our Family Educators were especially good at coming up with fun and creative ideas using scraps from around the office. We hope you all had a lovely Valentine’s Day and a restful weekend.

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Talking to Your Baby Early and Often 150 150 Way to Grow

Talking to Your Baby Early and Often

A recent Associated Press article highlights the importance of the work that our Family Educators have been doing for years. During home visits, Way to Grow’s Family Educators work to encourage our parents to talk to their children (regardless of their age) throughout the day. This exposure to words and conversations has a tremendous impact…

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Student of the Month! 150 150 Way to Grow

Student of the Month!

We’re excited to share this incredible Way to Grow success story! This is Family Educator Collette Fredrickson reporting: “On Monday morning, Osemwivie, kindergarten student and Way to Grow participant, was named Student of the Month at her school! Last August, Osemwivie was unable to read a single word and refused to even try out of fear of failing.…

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Beyond School Hours 150 150 Way to Grow

Beyond School Hours

Next week, Way to Grow’s Executive Director, Carolyn Smallwood, and Director of Early Education, Carrie Zelin Johnson, will travel to Atlanta to give a presentation on our home visiting model to attendees of the Beyond School Hours conference. Now in its 17th year, the Beyond School Hours conference is one of the nation’s largest and…

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A Very Special Visitor 150 150 Way to Grow

A Very Special Visitor

This week, we had a surprise visit from Beverly Propes. Ms. Propes was a member of the team at the Greater Twin Cities United Way that was instrumental in helping launch Way to Grow 25 years ago. A licensed school nurse, she is now a wellness consultant with Minneapolis Public Schools and a member of…

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Words to Grow 150 150 Way to Grow

Words to Grow

This week, a group of our Family Educators (and a special little helper who had a free day from school due to the cold!) assembled word kits for families of third grade students.These kits are designed to help parents get their children ready for the MCA tests. This is just one of many ways that…

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Invest Now or Pay More Later: A Conversation about Early Childhood with Economist Dr. Art Rolnick 150 150 Way to Grow

Invest Now or Pay More Later: A Conversation about Early Childhood with Economist Dr. Art Rolnick

  Way to Grow Board Member Dr. Art Rolnick, the Co-Director of the Human Capital Research Collaborative at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, recently joined Marti and Erin Erickson, co-hosts of Mom Enough, in their studio. As usual, Art spoke eloquently about the importance of investing in early learning programs. We’re…

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U of M Economist Publishes Study on Early Ed 150 150 Way to Grow

U of M Economist Publishes Study on Early Ed

Courtesy of University of Minnesota / MinnPost University of Minnesota professor Aaron Sojourner recently published a study in The Journal of Human Resources centered on the role that high quality pre-k programs can have in tackling the achievement gap. In an article published in MinnPost, Educator reporter Beth Hawkins wrote, “By age 3, children from…

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