A Reading PartnershipBaltimore City Detention Center School #370 Baltimore, Maryland In March 2002, a reading partnership began at the Baltimore City Detention Center School that sparked literacy-related discussions between students and family members. Judge Wanda Heard had recommended the book, And Still We Rise, as part of the probation conditions she gave juveniles. She donated several copies of the book to the school and challenged the students to read it. In addition to incorporating the book into the school curriculum, the Action Team for Partnerships started a reading partnership activity in response to a parent’s recount of her conversations with her child about the book. More... Arthur Harris, Community Liaison Facilitator (410) 209-4092 Type 4 | High School | Reading |
Bedtime Stories and Birthday Party for Dr. SeussMonterey Elementary School Grove City, Ohio The Action Team for Partnerships at Monterey Elementary throws a birthday party for Dr. Seuss to bring together families and the community during Read Across America Week. The birthday party encourages daily reading at home, models reading aloud for parents, and gives every child a new book. Monterey Elementary makes reading fun and interesting for a diverse group of people. More... Beverly R. Babbert, Staff Development and Curriculum Specialist (614) 801-8250 Type 4 | Elementary Grades | Reading |
Breakfast and a Book43 Academy Buffalo, New York On March 2, 2002, the school hosted a parent breakfast called “Breakfast and a Book” to kick off the Parents As Reading Partners Program (PARP) and to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday. The program supported the school-wide goals of increased reading achievement and increased parent involvement. Over 75 parents and 115 children participated. More... Lorraine Linden, Action Team Member (716) 897-8008 Type 4 | Elementary Grades | Reading |
Buddy Reading ProgramMill Street Elementary School Naperville, Illinois The Buddy Reading Program between North Central College and Mill Street Elementary School is the partnership of approximately sixty pre-service education students and sixty fourth and fifth graders exchanging dialogue on a one-to-one basis about a specific novel. Communication is via a college-based WEBboard that allows students to exchange ideas and make connections using the latest computer technology. The program’s goals for students are twofold: fourth and fifth grade students will (1) participate in a learning dialogue about grade appropriate literature and (2) utilize communication aspects of technology. The program also complements the school improvement objective to create opportunities for students to interact with the community as a way to see reading as a meaningful lifelong activity. More... Ruth Cross, Literacy Goal Team Co-Chair (630) 420-6353 Type 6 | Elementary Grades | Reading |
Equity Book ClubNathan Hale Elementary School Meriden, Connecticut The diversity of a school population provides a rich, cultural learning environment. It also can present challenges to narrow the gap between the highest and lowest achieving students. The Equity Book Club at Nathan Hale Elementary School was designed to bring together teachers, parents, and students to enjoy dinner, read quality literature that raises the issue of equity, and engage in literature circles to talk about the literature and how it might be connected to their lives. The purpose was to build on the Hale’s diverse school community to challenge beliefs, increase understanding, and begin to make changes that improve teaching and learning for all students. More... Susan La Chapellex, Susan La Chapelle, Event Coordinator (203) 237-7486 Type 4 | Elementary Grades | Reading |
Family Reading/Math Resource CenterClara E. Westropp Fundamental Elementary School Cleveland, Ohio The Action Team for Partnerships at Clara E. Westropp created a family resource center to improve student literacy and math skills and help parents feel more comfortable working with their children at home. More... Cristina Miranda, Family Liaison (216) 267-3706 Type 4 | Elementary Grades | Reading |
Family WorksKent Island Elementary School Stevensville, Maryland Kent Island Elementary School received a grant from Family Works on the Eastern Shore, the federally funded Parent Information Resource Center, to develop school, family, and community partnership practices in its pre-k to grade two school. This year the school held two fun and informative learning nights to introduce parents to its new math curriculum and to share some reading and media techniques that they could use to help their children at home. More... Linda L. Jefferson, Teacher Specialist (410) 643-2392 Type 4 | Elementary Grades | Reading |
Get Caught ReadingDr. Lydia T. Wright School of Excellence #89 Buffalo, New York Get Caught Reading was instituted as part of the annual “Parents and Children Reading Together” program. Students returned a reading contract signed by the parent and child at the beginning of the reading program, agreeing to read at least twenty minutes per night for five out of seven nights. Students who returned a signed contract complete with home phone number were eligible to “Get Caught Reading.” More... Patricia Smith, Action Team Member (716) 897-8090 Type 4 | Elementary Grades | Reading |
Lunch Bunch Lunch BunchCloud Elementary School Wichita, Kansas In order for children to improve their reading, they must read regularly. The Lunch Bunch program at Cloud Elementary ensures that each student in grades 1-5 reads with an adult for twenty minutes every day. Parent, community, and older student volunteers spend their lunchtime reading with children whose families are not able to read with them at home. More... Carla B. Smith, Principal (316) 973-9200 Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Reading |
Ozzie's Reading ClubHighlands Elementary School Naperville, Ohio Ozzie’s Reading Club, a reading incentive program sponsored by the Kane County Cougars minor league baseball team, encouraged students to increase their reading at home. During the eight-week reading program, approximately 400 students met their identified reading goals, and their families were involved in the process throughout. More... Jessica Jozwiak, Action Team Co-Chair (630) 961-5042 Type 6 | Elementary Grades | Reading |
Paws for ReadingCarstens Elementary School Detroit, Michigan The Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) at Carstens Elementary School accepted support from the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball team to demonstrate the importance of reading and to reward individual student’s achievement. More... Gail Nawrock, School Social Worker (313) 852-8087 Type 6 | Elementary Grades | Reading |