Arminta Coffee HouseArminta Elementary School North Hollywood, California Arminta Elementary School’s focus this year was to increase students’ writing achievement. The Action Team for Partnerships planned an event to showcase student writing, promote family literacy, and increase parent support of students’ learning. More... Bettie Wilson, Parent Center Advisor (818) 765-5911 bwiso02@lasud.k12.ca.us Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Literacy |
Family Literacy NightAllen Elementary School Canton, Ohio Allen Elementary hosted a family literacy event on the same night as parent-teacher conferences. More than 200 families visited the auditorium to pick up materials that they could use at home with their children to practice Terra Nova proficiency testing skills. Grade-level packets included activities and games focused on literacy skills. Allen’s Lead Literacy Specialist and the district Family Involvement Coordinator answered questions and assisted parents in working with their children. The district Family Involvement Coordinator also introduced parents to the Fast Start poetry program for grades kindergarten through two. The Family Literacy Night helped support a school improvement goal of 75% of students passing the Terra Nova proficiency test. More... Stephanie L. Patrick, Principal (330) 453-2782 s_patrick@ccsdistrict.org Type 4 | Elementary Grades | Literacy |
Family WritingHighlands Elementary School Naperville, Illinios A parent survey at Highlands Elementary revealed an interest in learning more about the writing process. The survey findings coincided with the school improvement goal focused on writing and were discussed with the Building Leadership Team. The School, Family, and Community Partnerships Literacy Committee, consisting of teachers, parents, and the Learning Resource Center (LRC) director, considered different ways to meet the needs of the parents. The committee decided on three teacher-led parent workshops that would provide participants with a greater familiarity with the writing process, specifically narrative, persuasive, and expository writing, and a greater understanding of the writing ISAT test. More... Barb Svarz, (630) 416-0023 Type 4 | Elementary Grades | Literacy |
Mother Goose NightEarly Childhood Center 78 Buffalo, New York Early Childhood Center 78 (E.C.C. 78) houses approximately 400 students in grades pre-kindergarten through grade two. With students’ ages in mind, our school created Mother Goose Night to reinforce our children’s early literacy skills. Studies have shown that children who read and know nursery rhymes are more likely to read at a younger age. We also wanted to increase parental involvement and to show parents that learning can be fun. Mother Goose Night reinforced the goals in our Comprehensive School Education Plan. More... Denise Rudd, Community School VISTA (716) 838-7464 Type 4 | Elementary Grades | Literacy |
Parents As AuthorsLoreto Elementary School Los Angeles, California Loreto Elementary School is located in a low socio-economic area where many parents are newly arrived immigrants and have minimal schooling and/or writing ability. In an effort to involve more parents to support their children’s writing, Loreto Elementary sent a cadre of teachers to a district training focused on involving parents as authors. The district training was led by two prominent children’s authors. After the training, the Loreto teachers invited all parents to a series of writing workshops. More... Angie Martinez, (323) 222-5176 Type 4 | Elementary Grades | Literacy |
Prairie Dogs, parents, Pizza and PoetryPrairie Elementary School Naperville, Illinois Prairie’s Action Team for Partnerships supported the school’s literacy goal by creating a family learning night focused on poetry. The evening began with pizza, drinks, and cookies. Next, a guest poet read poetry and discussed different types of poetry and her interest in writing. The children shared original poetry either by reading it aloud or posting it on a poetry wall. More... Paula Schuler, Action Team Member (630) 428-1238 Type 4 | Elementary Grades | Literacy |
Presenting Our Portfolio DayDiscovery School #98 Buffalo, New York The Discovery School’s philosophy is hands-on, minds-on learning. To enable students to take ownership of their learning, the school instituted an English Language Arts (ELA) portfolio program. The students chose what to save for their portfolio and then presented it to their family on a special day at school. More... Lynn Diagostino, Action Team Chairperson (716) 828-4728 Type 2 | Elementary Grades | Literacy |
University and School Business PartnershipRanch View School Naperville, Illinois Ranch View School and Benedictine University formed a partnership to understand each other better, exchange ideas, share resources, and provide opportunities for each partner to excel. The focus for this year’s Ranch View -Benedictine University (RV-BU) partnership was increasing student achievement in literacy, one of Ranch View’s school improvement goals. Through this partnership, the university gained pre-clinical classroom experience for students and feedback on syllabi for education courses. The school benefited from the interaction and support of BU students working in the classrooms, in the Learning Resource Center (LRC), and at after-school events. More... Karen Currier, Action Team Members (630) 420-6575 kcurrier@ncusd203.org drule@ncusd203.org Type 6 | Elementary Grades | Literacy |
W.A.V.E Parent InvolvementAndrew J. Rickoff Elementary School Cleveland, Ohio Literacy is Rickoff’s focal point, as well as a safe school environment in which all children can learn. Through a partnership with W.A.V.E. (Winning Against Violent Environments), the Academic Achievement Plan Committee planned parent literacy workshops that focused on non-violent activities for families. During the 14workshop series, parents were introduced to the Ohio Language Arts standards while participating in anger management activities that would help them help their children build conflict resolution skills while the students developed their reading and writing skills. More... Myras Holmes, Family Liaison (216) 295-3500 mathmogul1@yahoo.com Type 4 | Elementary Grades | Literacy |