After-School Writing ProgramRockwell Elementary School Bristol, Rhode Island Second and third graders at Rockwell Elementary School signed up for a special opportunity to sharpen their writing skills. Students from Roger Williams University’s (RWU) School of Education worked with the children after school to create a “Children’s Guide to Bristol and Warren, Rhode Island.” As part of the writing program, parents were asked to read their children’s works-in-progress and take their children to photograph parts of Bristol or Warren to support the guide. The after-school writing program met once a week for 45 minutes, and included 20 students from grades two and three. More... Carol Caetans, Program Coordinator (401) 254-5358 Type 6 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
After-School Writing ProgramRockwell Elementary School Bristol, Rhode Island Second and third graders at Rockwell Elementary School signed up for a special opportunity to sharpen their writing skills. Students from Roger Williams University’s (RWU) School of Education worked with the children after school to create a “Children’s Guide to Bristol and Warren, Rhode Island.” As part of the writing program, parents were asked to read their children’s works-in-progress and take their children to photograph parts of Bristol or Warren to support the guide. The after-school writing program met once a week for 45 minutes, and included 20 students from grades two and three. More... Carol Caetans, Program Coordinator (401) 254-5358 Type 6 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Doughnuts for Dads/Muffins for MomsCarver Elementary School Florence, South Carolina Carver Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) added a twist to their Doughnuts for Dads and Muffins for Moms events, making them a sweet success. During each event, the children and their parents ate breakfast together before school hours, while the chorus provided entertainment. Students presented their parents with certificates showing appreciation for their attendance. Then, the principal assigned homework to the parents. He asked them to respond to the event by writing a reflection on the importance of being a parent. Students aided their moms and dads with the assignment and turned in their parents’ responses for display on the principal’s Pride Board. More... Dr. Cynthia Young, (843) 664-8156 cyoung@fsd1.org Type 2 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Doughnuts for Dads/Muffins for MomsCarver Elementary School Florence, South Carolina Carver Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) added a twist to their Doughnuts for Dads and Muffins for Moms events, making them a sweet success. During each event, the children and their parents ate breakfast together before school hours, while the chorus provided entertainment. Students presented their parents with certificates showing appreciation for their attendance. Then, the principal assigned homework to the parents. He asked them to respond to the event by writing a reflection on the importance of being a parent. Students aided their moms and dads with the assignment and turned in their parents’ responses for display on the principal’s Pride Board. More... Dr. Cynthia Young, (843) 664-8156 cyoung@fsd1.org Type 2 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
English Language Learners’ Parent Book ClubPS 295 and MS 443 Brooklyn, New York To support more English language learners (ELL) and immigrant parents with their children’s education, PS 295 and MS 443 collaborated on the English Language Learners’ Parent Book Club. The elementary school and the middle school, which share a building, serve a large number of children who come from Central and South American families. Many of the families speak only Spanish at home. More... Alice Boles Ott, Parent Coordinators (347) 563-5367 aott4@nycboe.net Type 4 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
English Language Learners’ Parent Book ClubPS 295 and MS 443 Brooklyn, New York To support more English language learners (ELL) and immigrant parents with their children’s education, PS 295 and MS 443 collaborated on the English Language Learners’ Parent Book Club. The elementary school and the middle school, which share a building, serve a large number of children who come from Central and South American families. Many of the families speak only Spanish at home. More... Alice Boles Ott, Parent Coordinators (347) 563-5367 aott4@nycboe.net Type 4 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Family Holiday Literacy EventLeo Politi Elementary School Los Angeles, California During a brainstorming session involving the principal, literacy coaches, and teachers, the Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) at Leo Politi Elementary School decided to revamp their family holiday event. In the past, the school had hosted an event in which families visited with Santa and received complimentary refreshments. The ATP decided to make the event more special for families by distributing books and providing literacy workshops for parents. They also chose the Family Holiday Literacy Event to support the school improvement goal of increasing student reading achievement. More... Lynne Redman Co, ATP Chairperson (213) 480-1244 lredmanco@sbcglobal.net Type 2 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Family Holiday Literacy EventLeo Politi Elementary School Los Angeles, California During a brainstorming session involving the principal, literacy coaches, and teachers, the Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) at Leo Politi Elementary School decided to revamp their family holiday event. In the past, the school had hosted an event in which families visited with Santa and received complimentary refreshments. The ATP decided to make the event more special for families by distributing books and providing literacy workshops for parents. They also chose the Family Holiday Literacy Event to support the school improvement goal of increasing student reading achievement. More... Lynne Redman Co, ATP Chairperson (213) 480-1244 lredmanco@sbcglobal.net Type 2 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Family Literacy NightsComo Park Elementary School Saint Paul, Minnesota Como Park Elementary School has a large population of English as a Second Language (ESL) students. The school wanted to support ESL students’ reading development by helping their families learn how to help their children with reading at home. The Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) believed that Family Literacy Nights would help parents learn from teacher modeling, which in turn would help students learn from parent modeling. More... Sue Munion, Action Team for Partnerships Co-Chair (651) 293-8820 Type 4 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Family Literacy NightsComo Park Elementary School Saint Paul, Minnesota Como Park Elementary School has a large population of English as a Second Language (ESL) students. The school wanted to support ESL students’ reading development by helping their families learn how to help their children with reading at home. The Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) believed that Family Literacy Nights would help parents learn from teacher modeling, which in turn would help students learn from parent modeling. More... Sue Munion, Action Team for Partnerships Co-Chair (651) 293-8820 Type 4 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Family Reading and Literacy NightWoodridge Primary School Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Woodridge Primary School found a way to celebrate both National Family Literacy Day and Ohio’s bicentennial by organizing a school-wide Family Reading and Literacy Night. This event, attended by approximately 200 people, required the collaboration and combined talents of parents, Woodridge staff, and the University of Akron/SELF Even Start Family Literacy Program. Together, they planned an evening that included dinner and a live theatre-in-the-round performance by “Celebrate Ohio,” a local children’s theatre group. More... Rosanne Shepherd, Even Start Coordinator (330) 926-1363 rsgeogerd@woodbridge.k12.oh.us Type 3 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Family Reading and Literacy NightWoodridge Primary School Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Woodridge Primary School found a way to celebrate both National Family Literacy Day and Ohio’s bicentennial by organizing a school-wide Family Reading and Literacy Night. This event, attended by approximately 200 people, required the collaboration and combined talents of parents, Woodridge staff, and the University of Akron/SELF Even Start Family Literacy Program. Together, they planned an evening that included dinner and a live theatre-in-the-round performance by “Celebrate Ohio,” a local children’s theatre group. More... Rosanne Shepherd, Even Start Coordinator (330) 926-1363 rsgeogerd@woodbridge.k12.oh.us Type 3 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Get Smart with the Arts—After School Language Arts ProgramNorthwoods Elementary School Eau Claire, Wisconsin Northwoods Elementary teamed up with the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire (UWEC) to help students Get Smart with the Arts. A senior education class from UWEC offered 16 hours of supplementary language arts instruction to Northwoods students of all ability levels in grades one through five. More... Laurie Erdman, Partnership Coordinator (715) 839-7383 lerdman@ecasd.k12.wi.us Type 6 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Get Smart with the Arts—After School Language Arts ProgramNorthwoods Elementary School Eau Claire, Wisconsin Northwoods Elementary teamed up with the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire (UWEC) to help students Get Smart with the Arts. A senior education class from UWEC offered 16 hours of supplementary language arts instruction to Northwoods students of all ability levels in grades one through five. More... Laurie Erdman, Partnership Coordinator (715) 839-7383 lerdman@ecasd.k12.wi.us Type 6 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Intergenerational Writing ProjectMcKinley Elementary School Stevens Point, Wisconsin Imagine how different life would be without pizza. McKinley Elementary School students got a chance to hear many tales such as this through an intergenerational writing project. McKinley’s Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) invited their community’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) to school for a day of sharing life stories. Students interviewed the senior volunteers with questions they prepared ahead of time, and each of the seniors gave detailed, memorable answers. Afterwards, students wrote about the stories they heard and sent thank-you notes to the senior volunteers. More... Cathy Martin, School Enhancement Team Co-Chair (715) 345-5421 Type 6 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Intergenerational Writing ProjectMcKinley Elementary School Stevens Point, Wisconsin Imagine how different life would be without pizza. McKinley Elementary School students got a chance to hear many tales such as this through an intergenerational writing project. McKinley’s Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) invited their community’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) to school for a day of sharing life stories. Students interviewed the senior volunteers with questions they prepared ahead of time, and each of the seniors gave detailed, memorable answers. Afterwards, students wrote about the stories they heard and sent thank-you notes to the senior volunteers. More... Cathy Martin, School Enhancement Team Co-Chair (715) 345-5421 Type 6 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Poetry SlamPrairie Elementary School Naperville, Illinois Prairie Elementary School’s Learning Resource Center (LRC) was transformed into a coffeehouse, with tablecloths and lights decorating each table. The overhead lights were dimmed, and bright lights focused on a stage. One by one, students from kindergarten to fifth grade went on stage to recite a poem, either one that they had written or one out of a book from a popular poet, such as Shel Silverstein. At the end of each reading, students received warm applause. More... Paula Schuler, SFCP Committee Member (603) 961-7647 chulepa@bp.com Type 2 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Poetry SlamPrairie Elementary School Naperville, Illinois Prairie Elementary School’s Learning Resource Center (LRC) was transformed into a coffeehouse, with tablecloths and lights decorating each table. The overhead lights were dimmed, and bright lights focused on a stage. One by one, students from kindergarten to fifth grade went on stage to recite a poem, either one that they had written or one out of a book from a popular poet, such as Shel Silverstein. At the end of each reading, students received warm applause. More... Paula Schuler, SFCP Committee Member (603) 961-7647 chulepa@bp.com Type 2 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Project Power LinkCarrie P. Meek/Westview Elementary School Miami, Florida Forty fourth- and fifth-grade students, identified as at-risk, participated in an intergenerational service learning project called Project Power Link at Carrie P. Meek/Westview Elementary School. Every Saturday morning for 34 weeks, students and their parents researched their family history and created a PowerPoint slideshow to present their findings. In order to work on this project together, students had to teach their parents basic computer skills. At the end of the project, students and parents showcased their presentations during the Literacy Fair and FCAT Jeopardy Night. More... Dr. Rosa R. Simmons, Principal (305) 688-9641 rsimmons@dadeschools.net Type 6 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Project Power LinkCarrie P. Meek/Westview Elementary School Miami, Florida Forty fourth- and fifth-grade students, identified as at-risk, participated in an intergenerational service learning project called Project Power Link at Carrie P. Meek/Westview Elementary School. Every Saturday morning for 34 weeks, students and their parents researched their family history and created a PowerPoint slideshow to present their findings. In order to work on this project together, students had to teach their parents basic computer skills. At the end of the project, students and parents showcased their presentations during the Literacy Fair and FCAT Jeopardy Night. More... Dr. Rosa R. Simmons, Principal (305) 688-9641 rsimmons@dadeschools.net Type 6 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Take Your Parent to School Day / ELA NightBuffalo Public Schools #66/#86 Buffalo, New York Buffalo Public Schools #66 and #86 involved families in their efforts to raise student scores on the New York State English Language Arts (ELA) Assessment. School #66 had been identified as a first year school in need of improvement due to its eighth graders’ performance on the ELA test. In response, the school instituted instructional changes, and believed increased partnership efforts would benefit students as well. Schools #66 and #86, which share a building, implemented Take Your Parent to School Day and ELA Night to work together with parents to help students prepare for the state tests. More... Sue Carl, ATP Members (716) 838-7447 Type 4 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |
Take Your Parent to School Day / ELA NightBuffalo Public Schools #66/#86 Buffalo, New York Buffalo Public Schools #66 and #86 involved families in their efforts to raise student scores on the New York State English Language Arts (ELA) Assessment. School #66 had been identified as a first year school in need of improvement due to its eighth graders’ performance on the ELA test. In response, the school instituted instructional changes, and believed increased partnership efforts would benefit students as well. Schools #66 and #86, which share a building, implemented Take Your Parent to School Day and ELA Night to work together with parents to help students prepare for the state tests. More... Sue Carl, ATP Members (716) 838-7447 Type 4 | Elementary Grades| Literacy |