Everybody Wins! is a children's literacy and mentoring organization that through the Power Lunch program matches professionals with elementary school students for one-on-one reading and conversation during the lunch hour every week. For information getting your place of employment involved in reading at a nearby school, please call Everybody Wins! at 202-624-3957.
Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA), in conjuncton with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and as part of the Literary Heritage USA program, hosted a series of readathons, literary landmark dedications, and a literary tour of New England in recognition of "Building a Nation of Readers." The readathons took place in New Orleans, Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington, D.C. and attracted readers of all ages. Literary landmark dedications included sites associated with Sherwood Anderson, Richard Wright, Sarah Orne Jewett, Thomas Jefferson, Jack London, Kay Thompson, Albert Payson Terhune, and Charles Dickens. "Leaves and Literature," FOLUSA's tour of literary New England featured sites associated with Edith Wharton, Herman Melville, and Emily Dickinson.
General Federation of Women's Clubs' Literacy Program educates members about issues pertaining to low literacy and provides them with tools for community outreach. GFWC's Libraries 2000 initiative represents a commitment by GFWC's 250,000 members to contribute $12.5 million in books and materials to public libraries. This effort builds on GFWC's historic support for libraries and literacy over the past 108 years, which includes helping to establish 75% of the nation's libraries.
KIDSNET is offering through January 2000, Books and TV: Going Steady for Literacy, a special free online curriculum guide featuring book-related television programming, reading activities, and Internet-based literacy resources. KIDSNET is constantly developing other innovative media-based curriculum that can be found at the KIDSNET website (www.KIDSNET.org).
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, develops and delivers children's and family literacy programs that help prepare young children for reading and motivate school-age children to read regularly. Serving more than 3.5 million children annually at 165,000 sites in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. offshort territories, RIF programs operate in schools, childcare centers, libraries, hospitals, clinics, migrant worker camps, Head Start programs, homeless shelters, and detention centers. Through a national network of about 240,000 teachers, parents, and community volunteers, RIF programs provide children with books and other essential literacy resources at no cost to them or their families. RIF focuses highest priority on the nation's neediest children, from infancy to age 11.
Women's National Book Association works to promote reading and to support women in the book world. National activities include three awards -- one to booksellers for bringing books to children in unique ways; one to a librarian for learning more about publishing; and one to a living American bookwoman. Local chapters sponsor tutors, partnerships with literacy organizations, books for children involved in court cases, and writing contests -- as well as career development.
At North Pole Middle School, a team of three classes of sixth graders begins each new school year with "Dip into Reading." During September, students are required to read a Newbery Award book and do a mini-book report, read aloud to the class a Caldecott Award book, read two novels of their choice and make a bookmark and ice cream cone book report. With each completed book and project, students earn a scoop of ice cream on their ice cream cone. At the end of the month, the team celebrates "Dip into Reading," by dipping into ice cream.
Braille Institute Library Services promotes reading to patrons of all ages. Younger readers participate in the annual summer reading program, choosing Braille and recorded cassette books from age-related bibliographies preparied by the information resources librarian. Prizes are awarded to winners. A record number of young readers took part in the 1999 program, "Beat the Heat, Read."
Sacramento
School-age kids will use their imaginations to travel through time when joining Sacramento Public Library's next year-round reading club program, Where in Time is Melanie M.? Get a Clue at Your Local Library!, from mid-June 2000 through April 2001. Children, ages 5 to 12, will be guided along their journeys, from the prehistoric era to the future community of Futuropolis, by adventure-seeker Melanie M., a fictional character developed especially for the reading club. Club members will enjoy weekly programs at city and county library branches, featuring the region's leading storytellers, puppeteers, musicians, singers, library staff, and other exciting performers. For more information, contact the Sacramento Public Library at 916-264-2770.
The Denver Public Library's "Summer of Reading" program encourages children to choose from over 500 fun activities and win prizes for reading. Typical prizes include fast food vouchers, amusement park tickets, and zoo and museum passes. Last year, more than one-third of all Denver children participated in the program.
The Bear Public Library promotes reading by offering exciting storytimes and monthly book discussion groups. The storytimes range from "Terrific Twos" every Monday for two year olds to a "Pajama Storytime" for preschool/early elementary age. There is also the "Book Badgers" monthly book discussion for ages 8-12 and a "dynamic" monthly adult book discussion get together.
As part of the "Read Across America" program, a volunteer from the Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services, read out loud to students of Indian Trails Elementary School (Palm Coast, Florida) from the braille pages of the print braille edition of Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. The students enjoyed the print pages of the same edition. Plans are being made to continue this outreach effort to acquaint elementary school students with braille as an alternative method of reading.
Pasco County
Pasco County Reading Council volunteers work with pregnant high school students to help them understand both the importance of as well as how to read to their babies. Each student is given a book suitable for a very young child.
Tampa
"Celebrate National Library Week with Adam T. Riffick" is a project of Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System. An eight-week, half-page newspaper series featuring a young boy, Adam T. Riffick, who rescues endangered turtle hatchlings, was designed to encourage families and classrooms to read together and answer story questions on the library's Web site at: http://thpl.org/.
Vero Beach
During National Teen Read Week, the Indian River County Main Library held a Teen Beanbag Read-A-Thon. Beanbag chairs were scattered around the story pit, refreshments were handed out, and 65 teens, in three two-hour sessions, read for fun. At the end of each session, names were drawn for prizes.
Carbondale
Through "Writers Live at the Library," an annual program at Carbondale Public Library since 1996, 60 junior high students who are at risk for language skills are chosen to attend a writing workshop at the library in small groups of 20, conducted by published creative writers from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Authors read to the groups and then through exercises lead them to write their own stories. Last year, "Writers Live" was the most successful because senior citizens were invited to participate along with the students. An anthology was produced and distributed afterwards. This was a self-esteem booster!
Johnsburg
The Johnsburg Public Library sponsored a Young Adult Book & Film Festival. Participants all read the same book and then watched the movie based on the book at the library. Local radio and newspaper film critics led discussions. This event was a huge success and a great way to attract the young adult crowd.
Springfield
"99 Reasons to Read in 1999" was an adult reading campaign launched by Lincoln Library [Springfield's public library] in January and February of 1999. All participants (some 800+) received a free journal to record their books. For each book read, participants were given prize slips which went into weekly drawings for merchandise and services donated by local businesses. The library has been doing this kind of project for adult readers for the past eight years and it continues to be popular.
The Eckhart Public Library and a local public access TV station, JBE TV, promote reading by hosting a read-a-thon during National Library Week. Community leaders are invited to read favorite picture books to their children. These readings are taped with an introductory reading promo and broadcast during the month of April. This project has been very effective in promoting the importance of families reading together.
Bloomington
Fairview Elementary School already has QBT(Quiet Book Time) every day. They also have monthly themes. For October, they used the theme EFFORT and decided to concentrate their effort on QBT reading. They chose football for a theme to tie it all together. They held an assembly and invited high school cheerleaders and football players to talk to the kids about effort and to share their favorite books. Throughout the month each class is setting QBT goals of how much time they will spend reading. Classes that reach their weekly goals will make a first down, second down, third down, and at the end of the month a touchdown. On the last day of October, they will celebrate with a victory party. They are hoping to have Indiana University football mascots come celebrate with them.
Butler
Eastside Jr/Sr High School students participate in two reading programs from September to April 12th of every school year--the Young Hoosier Book Award for grades 7-8; and the Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award for grades 9-12. These are voluntary. Also, teachers may read to their class during the 15-minute activity period on March 2 of each year to celebrate reading on the birthday of Dr. Seuss.
Crawfordsville
The Joseph F. Tuttle Middle School has presented two "Read and Feed" celebrations for their students. This is a voluntary reading program in which students read a common book, take a quiz when they finish the book and if they pass, receive an invitation to a special lunch. Adults from the community also read the book and at the lunch, serve as discussion leaders with about six students. In addition to parents and retired teachers, other adult readers participating include college professors, librarians, the city's mayor, school board members and the superintendent. The lunch menu comes from food mentioned in the book and is decorated as a setting in the book. They have used Margaret Peterson Haddix's books (Running Out of Time and Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Duphy) and the author joined them last spring for their celebration.
Evansville
The Helfrich Park School community has made a three-year commitment beginning in 1999-2000 to provide students with sixty minutes of recreational reading per week. During the twenty-minute periods three days a week at the beginning of the instructional day, students engage in reading books of their choice from newly established classroom libraries and from the school media center. Each classroom is provided with a daily newspaper and a classroom set of weekly news magazines. The staff models leisure reading.
Gaston
The Gaston Elementary School conducts classroom door decorating contests in which each door becomes a scene from a favorite book.
At Harrison Elementary School the "Reader of the Week" program involves students and the high school basketball team. During home games throughout basketball season, the selected reader will be recognized, sit with the team during the game, and receive an autographed basketball.
At the Harrison-Washington Community Schools, a book reading and discussion group has been organized where a book is chosen, read, and discussed. Parents, faculty, and staff are invited to attend the group's monthly meeting. The first book chosen was At Home in Mitford. This group is sponsored in part by the Community Foundation of Muncie.
Students at Wes-Del Middle School participate in Reading Olympics in which they read books and then take tests on their books on the Reading Counts! computer program. Students are awarded prizes once they reach selected goals.
Indianapolis
Every January-March since 1994, the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation Religious School and Library has cosponsored a popular reading incentive program for students, grades K-7. Hundreds of children have read thousands of books. Most children earn prizes. Families often read together, inspired by annual themes, such as "JUDAIC PARK: Where Jewish Books Are Not Extinct!"
The Theodore Potter Elementary School #74 Media Center is using as its theme the phrase: "Reading is a Piece of Cake." Students are invited to read for pleasure during recess in the "Sweet Shoppe" adjacent to the Media Center. Throughout the schoolyear, students utilize the Electronic Bookshelf quiz program. At the end of the year, students are invited to the "Sweet Shoppe Market."
Jeffersonville
Reading aloud is celebrated monthly at River Valley Middle School. Different themes are chosen each month and all participants in the READ ALOUD CHALLENGE share selections with students based on the theme. Theme for 1999-2000 include Heroes, the Future, and Celebrate Indiana. Participants are eligible for classroom prizes.
Lafayette
TELL (Teachers Encouraging a Love for Literature) are sponsors of a 1999-2000 author/conference series "Get Connected Through Children's Literature: Honoring the Past, Imagining the Future." Well known children's authors are brought to the West Lafayette area for two-day sessions in this four-part series (October and November 1999; February and April 2000). On Fridays of the program, authors visit the children in area schools (schools are invited to "purchase" a half-day with an author). On Saturdays, authors address TELL members in a Saturday morning workshop.
Marengo
Crawford County Jr./Sr. High School's reading incentive program is tied to the school's grade incentive program. Students read books and pass quizzes over what they have read. Three points are then added to the student's grade incentive point total. Two times during the year, students trade their points for prizes in a student council sponsored store.
Mishawaka
Every week, at Byrkit High School, all the students and the teachers (principal, too) sit down and read for 30 minutes. In one classroom, the class is reading aloud an adventure story, and then the students read silently for the next 20 minutes. Students are allowed to pick a book of their choice.
New Middletown
Fourth, fifth, and sixth graders at New Middletown Elementary School belong to a school book club. Students are divided by grade/reading levels. Each group reads a novel on their own time (three to five chapters a week). Each group meets one day a week and discusses the novel over doughnuts and orange juice. There is 63% participation of the students in the three grade levels.
Osgood
Jac-Cen-Del Elementary School's Eagle Reader Program was initiated by the high school basketball coach. The objective was to encourage reading by awarding basketball incentives to all students in grades one through six. Every book was initialized by a parent to verify that it had been read by the child. For every five books read, prizes were awarded. Prizes included bookmarks, free game tickets, drawings for bench seats, and team basketball cards. The top reader at each grade level received a shirt and a basketball autographed by the team.
Pendleton
At the East Elementary School Media Center a book is purchased in honor of a student's birthday. A photo is taken of the honoree holding the book and placed inside it along with a bookplate stating the buddy's name and birthdate. The birthday buddy is first to check out the book.
Terre Haute
The Vigo County Schools, Vigo County Teachers Association, and Vigo County Public Libraries cosponsor a program on Monday evenings called "Monday Night Stop and Read." A local radio station has a weekly drawing. If a student is "caught reading," he/she wins a $25 gift certificate compliments of the teachers association. Students register in school and public libraries.
Thorntown
To keep the students reading during the long weeks before spring vacation, Thorntown Elementary School has planned a "Clowing Around With Reading" party, which will take place at the school just before spring break. To attend, students need to meet their reading goal, which is a certain number of points in Accelerated Reader. The school expects upwards of 200 students (from a K-6 building of 500) and they have many activities planned----pizza, clowns, Rock N'Read, ice cream, face painging, making bookmarks, storytelling, etc. This is said to be a real motivator for the students.
Union Mills
South Central Elementary School is offering a reading and math incentive program called RAMP (Reading and Math Passport to Success). Students are encouraged to read 250 minutes per month and work on math activities 250 minutes per month outside of school. In two months, 70% of the 450 students have met the monthly goals.
Zionsville
For five years, the Zionsville Lower Middle School participated in Electronic Bookshelf Reading Incentive. Their numbers increased from 76 winners to 314. Due to technical difficulties, they stopped for one year. Their book circulation was drastically reduced and students were not reading as much. Consequently, Reading Counts was recently reinstated and the school looks forward to building their reading population back up.
At the Emerson Public Library, For every 10 books the kids read they receive a prize through 50 books. Story hour is held every Saturday. At the conclusion of the program, the readers receive certificates and prizes. Special awards are presented to top readers in each age group.
Hull
The Hull Public Library has a program called "Special Delivery: Books." New parents receive a gift bag containing information about the library, a board book, refrigerator magnet, a list of books appropriate for young children, and literature about the importance of reading to children. This program is successful in getting new parents to start thinking about reading to their young children.
Pella
Central College's Geisler Library sponsors the annual "Writers Reading Series" which encourages reading and promotes an appreciation of books and their authors. Locally, nationally and internationally known writers as well as college faculty and students read and discuss their works. Readings are free and open to the public. For more informaton visit the college web site at: www.central.edu/Library/libhome.htm
Silver City
This year's summer reading program theme at Silver City Public Library was "Treasure Your Library." Participants received prizes and certificates for the number of books they read and they were taken to the city park for the library's annual ice cream event.
Cheverly
At the Gladys Noon Spellman Elementary School, "Lic Illiteracy" is a program where students communicate the importance of reading and learning how to read to new mothers. To do this, student sell lollipops to raise money to buy new books. Along with the books and a handwritten letter explaining the importance of reading, the students will go to P.G. Hospital. They will give a new mother a book and the letter.
Carver
YAP, the Young Adult Poetry group at Carver Public Library, meets every Thursday to read and write poetry. The group of 9 students are producing their own book, using poems and artwork produced by the members. They also held a coffee house at the library and invited graduate students from Boston University to read.
Fall River
The Bristol Community College Center for Developmental Education houses an accessible collection of books and magazines that are free for students to borrow. Reading students also participate in SSR (Silent Sustained Reading) throughout the semester and share their enjoyment of the books they discovered through oral presentations, written papers and posters. Favorite books of students, faculty and staff are also posted on bulletin boards throughout the college.
Lowell
Following classroom experiences in reading and writing poetry, children in grades 5 & 6 will submit their poems for inclusion in the first annual Lowell's Young Poets Collection, a publication to be housed in local school and public libraries. On May 4, a program of a poet, an actor, and a videotape of the children reading their poems will celebrate poetry. The Lowell Cultural Council is the sponsoring organization.
Millis
"Book Talk Kids" are book discussion groups for grades three through six held monthly at the Millis Public Library. The "Book Talk Kids" developed a program for the year called the "R.E.D. 2000 Challenge." Each participant is to encourage their friends and family to " R(ead) E(very) D(ay) 2000" seconds (33.33333333 minutes). The four discussion groups include a girls 3rd & 4th grade group (10); a boys 3rd & 4th grade group (6); a girls 5th & 6th grade group (14); and a boys fifth and sixth grade group (15). The charter members will receive a "R.E.D.2000" T-shirt during National Library Week and hand out book marks with the "R.E.D. 2000 Challenge" logo to their classmates at school. The "Book Talk Kids" was developed to encourage reading beyond the three year old, four year old and kindergarten through second grade storyhour programs that have been the foundation of the children's programs in the library. The groups are lead by several different librarians at the library.
Natick
In celebration of "Read Across America" Day, the Natick High School Library in collaboration with the Natick High School English Dept. sponsored a "Read-A-Latte" days in the library. This was an interdisciplinary project as it involved the library, English Dept., Art classes and Foods class. For two days, the library was transformed into a bookstore/cafe atmosphere complete with cappucino, cocoa, coffee and baked goods (baked and served by Foods classes). Displays were set up around the library featuring difference categories of books (e.g. sports, biographies, Oprah'sbooks, summer reading list books, mysteries, sci-fi, the student reading club selections, etc.). The PTSO volunteered and helped decorate, the Boosters funded the library to provide the food. The students comments were most appreciative with such comments as "liked knowing the library had fun books, not just report/assigned books", relaxing, fun, "I actually took a book out!"
Needham
The Needham Free Public Library sponsors the McIver Reading and Discussion Series which honors retired library director Vivan D. McIver. The three-meeting series, established in 1988, is presented each spring and may take a variety of forms. Past series have featured, "Needham Reads Needman Authors," "Novels into Film," "Whodounits as Reflections of Cultures." The current series (spring 2000) is "Making Crime Pay," a discussion/interview/question series featuring local mystery writers from the Sisters in Crime organization.
Qunicy
Quincy Public Schools, Thomas Crane Public Library, LVA-Quincy, and MASS DOE sponsor April in Paris Family Fete with Madeline, an annual community-wide event that engages children and parents in fun library-based events around children's book character with refreshments, games, reading, and literacy activities. Each child receives a Madeline book and his/her Polaroid picture with Madeline. Parents receive information about adult education programs and library and city spring and summer childrens events.
Western Massachusetts Regional Library System
The Massachusetts Children's Book Award Program (MCBA), administered by Salem State College, is recognized as the state's official book award program. Each year, the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System (WMRLS), actively promotes this program through its Web site at: http://www.wmrls.org/mcba/index.html. The WMRLS "MCBA Web site" features a "Books in a Blink" booktalk (for teachers and librarians to promote the nominated titles) and a "Readers' Review" page in which children campaign for their favorite books.
Westminster
On July 12, 2000, the Forbush Memorial Library will read for 12 hours straight - "12 hours on the 12th." Volunteers will read for 15 minutes at a time to all children and adults who drop in to listen. Their goal is to have someone reading at all times.
Whitinsville
Whitinsville Christian School holds a Read-a-thon each spring. This 6-week program encourages students and their families in grades K-5 to read a specified number of pages each week. Incentives include medals for all who complete the program, and a pancake breakfast for the class reading the most.
Winchester
McCall Middle School Library has a very successful Intergenerational Reading/Discussion Group of Middle Schoolers and Senior Citizens which meets for lunch monthly.
The Winchester Public Library sponsors R.O.A.R. (Reach Out and Read), a corps of teens who read to approximately 3000 younger children each summer. Now in its 8th year and supported by a grant from the Winchester Co-operative Bank, the corps has a paid coordinator and travels to over 20 sites per week. Their T-shirts with lion logo are a welcome and familiar sight around town.
Worcester County
"Community Reading Day" is a celebration of literacy and reading held in over 90 central Massachusetts communities. The Regional Library System (with Alliance for Education and BancBoston) helps to coordinate the event, which sends 5,000+ community volunteers into every elementary classroom to read aloud and share literacy activities with over 90,000 children.
The Detroit Edison Public School Academy/Bernard Coker Media Center sponsors the Family Reading Partnership Program held biweekly on Monday night at the media center to promote reading partners within the family unit. Reading, snacks, special "Griot," storytellers, authors, faculty, parents, and students interact with all literary genres to encourage and foster a love for reading. Once a month, special promotions (i.e. Book Fairs, Reading Dinners) are held requesting the support from the whole school community.
Livonia
At the Livonia Public Library, volunteer tutors trained in the "Reading Recovery Program" were available to all three library branches last summer to offer their services to 1st and 2nd graders who were at risk for reading. The parents arranged for a tutor to meet with their child at the library on a weekly basis. Whatever reading the child did with the tutor earned the child incentives from the library's Summer Reading Program.
Marshall
"Author! Author!" was a letter-writing promotion featured during "March is Reading Month" at the Marshall District Library. Children were encouraged to write to their favorite authors. Guides to letter-writing and author addresses were made available. A copy of the letter they wrote was displayed, and the children were encouraged to bring in the authors' responses. A follow-up display of letters and responses was made in September with an accompanying newspaper article.
Valley View Elementary's school mascot, Cheetah, issued a challenge to students and their families...read together for 20 minutes every day. Students keep track of their reading time on a special bookmark. Cheetah and the Prize Patrol visit the homes of Valley Viewers to reward those who make reading a family affair. Cheetah's Readers receive a prize pack and a portrait of Cheetah; a news story chronicles the patrol's visits on the cable show and Cheetah TV; and a special "Family Night Out for Readers" is sponsored by the local McDonald's. This reading incentive program was awarded the prestigous Prodigy Award given annually by Bloomington's Education Foundation.
Duluth
The Duluth Public Library sponsors "Book Time With Your Baby," a grant-funded collaborative project promoting the importance of sharing reading with children beginning at birth. Components include billboards throughout the community, posters on buses, board books for every baby born in local hospitals, community baby showers, programs for parent and community groups, and information in doctors' waiting rooms.
Pontotoc
The Pontotoc County Library sponsors an afterschool program, "Munching With Books." Once a month, the library invites someone to review a children's or young adult book. Activities and snacks are provided to compliment the book. The program is open to children in first through sixth grade.
The Farmington High School Library Media Center held reading activities for Teen Read Week including enlarged color pictures of staff reading their favorite books, paperback book drawings in the library, read-a-book in an hour, and book swaps. In addition, to encourage leisure reading, Reading Counts has been implemented and all students have 30 minutes, every other day, to read books of their choice during free, voluntary reading time.
Springfield
Since college students often find that reading for class deadlines is work that isn't much fun, the library at Southwest Missouri State University has established a "Fiction for Enjoyment" paperback collection. The collection is located beside the main circulation desk to remind students how much pleasure there is in books.
"Wee Read" is an early childnood literacy program sponsored by the Springfield-Greene County Library, Friends of the Library and area Parents as Teachers. The program, which gives free books to children, encourages parents to read to their infants and toddlers, and to use the public library's materials and services.
The Scottsbluff Public Library offers a variety of programs, including pre-school story times, home-bound book delivery, out-reach through school-related programs and summer reading programs for all ages, from preschool through adult. They will also sponsor their first "Poet's Place" in April with an evening of poetry readings in a coffee house atmosphere.
An annotated booklist of the high appeal books of 1998 (see Best Books for 1998 posted at http://roxburylibrary.gti.net) compiled by the head of Youth Services at Roxbury Public Library was used as the basis for a very successful school and public library cooperation program. The books were used for booktalks in the five elementary schools during National Children's Book Week in Nov. 1998. Many of the children came into the library asking for the books. Teachers used the list for book report assignments and summer reading suggestions while librarians used it for purchasing suggestions. School librarians are now inquiring about the 1999 list and scheduling National Children's Book Week visits.
Washington
The Washington (Borough) Public Library staged a "Read Your Favorite Poem" program in August. All ages were invited to participate however because the last program activity for the season was the Summer Reading program in July, half of the participants were children. The poems they read were short and funny, while the adults were longer and more serious. Publicity appeared in two local newspapers.
Seventh and eighth grade students of the language arts classes at Hackett Middle School practice selecting and reading favorite children's books aloud. They learn to read to young children (siblings, relatives, child sittings) and to select appropriate books (from libraries and book shops.
Binghamton
In the fall, the Chenango Bridge Elementary School Library starts with a forest of green trees on the bulletin board. When students in grades 4-6 read and report on books, they are given a colorful leaf on which they write their name, the book title and author. The forest soon turns color because the children have turned many leaves.
Clayton
The Thousand Islands Middle School's 6th grade reading class has been introduced to the usage of the internet for review writing as well as reading reviews. Thus the students have become more involved in what they are reading and take on ownership in doing so.
Rochester
The reading promotion project of Clara Barton School #2 for this year is "Book Bingo." All students in grades 3-5 are participating. The students received a bingo card with 25 reading assignments - different genres, dictionary assignments and research questions. The students have the 199-2000 school year to complete it.
Nazareth Hall Elementary School's Reading Program 2000, "Book" a Trip Around the World, is a ten-week read-a-thon designed to encourage children in Pre-K to Grade 5 to read/listen in for fun and enjoyment. Each class is challenged through team effort to reach the school goal by "travelling" to five famous sites around the world, ending at Olympics 2000.
Schenectady
Volunteers run the Pride of Ownership Library at M. L. King Magnet School, where kids can purchase 25 cent books, and then trade them indefinitely for free. Teachers are encouraged to give free book certificates as rewards. The school publishing center is used to make books of student works and make them available for purchase.
Cary
The Oak Grove Elementary School held a school-wide Read-a-thon in October. Students read continuously for over three hours. All money pledged was donated to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Greensboro
Staff members of the Jackson Library at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, volunteer weekly to work with children who need help in improving their reading skills at a local elementary school with a high at risk population. The library staff is a leading source of volunteers for the schools literacy initiative.
Havelock
The W. J. Gurganus Elementary School-Media Center student body comes together to exchange books at least one week a year. They receive a ticket (ticket color denotes condition of book) for each book they turn in. On the last two days of the week the students return to pick out books to take home from the box that matches their color ticket. This is great for beginning the year, and swapping all the books they read over the summer..
In their work with the schools, the Lakota City Library reports that classes at Lakota Elementary do a book report each month for a local newspaper. Also, the high school students gave the library three books for a deserted island and living legend considerations.
The Community Service students of Mt. Healthy South Middle School are sponsors of "Read Across America" activities during the school day. Activities include the following: collecting/display of favorite book titles by staff and students during lunch where the lunch time menu reflects the titles of Dr. Seuss books, student identification of Dr. Seuss quotes read over the PA during the day, and guessing the number of green eggs in the "guess jar." Students and staff receive "Read Across America" stickers during the day and prizes are awarded for the contests that are held. Staff and students are encouraged to wear red/white and black that day as a show of support for reading. Dr. Seuss hats are worn by cafeteria staff.
During the summer break from school, the Southern Wasco County Library sponsors a summer reading program. Children earn ice cream cones and prizes for each 10 books read with special prizes for the child reading the most books.
Portland
Multnomah County Library's BOOKS 2 U program aims to make better readers of at-risk children by encouraging recreational reading to "practice" the reading skills learned at school. Staff and volunteers booktalk high interest paperback books at elementary schools, after-school care sites and summer programs that serve at-risk children of all ages. Students can obtain a library card and borrow books directly from the booktalkers. The neighborhood library branch and its programs are also promoted.
Beaver Area Middle School/High School, in conjunction with "Teen Read Week" (October 17-23, 1999), is sponsoring an independent reading period on October 20 for all students. The librarian has prepared unique book displays, and Parents That Support (PTS) will sponsor a local bookstore's 10% coupon book sale. All activities support Pennsylvania's Academic Standard of Reading Independently and the importance of reading in our daily lives.
Berwyn
The Easttown Library has established a Mother/Daughter Book Club. The book group meets monthly to promote reading, while bringing together generations of women and girls (grades 5-9) to discuss, communicate and bond over issues of relevance to women of all ages.
Bucks County
The Bucks County Reading Olympics, sponsored by the Bucks County Free Library (Doylestown), Bucks County Imtermediate Unit, Unami Middle School (Chalfont), and Log College Middle School (Warminster), is a countywide program designed to increase reading. Throughout the school year, students collaborate as teammates to read 45 books that have been selected by a committee of librarians and teachers who also read the books and write questions, which the teams answer during an evening competition. The Olumpics are primarily a celebration of reading rather than a contest. Team scores are cumulative and every participant receives a ribbon. The 2000 Olympics will be held April 5 and 13 involving over 3500 students in grades 4 through 12 in elementary, middle and senior high divisions.
Hershey
The Hershey Public Library actively promotes reading for both children and adults in a variety of ways. For Summer Reading Programs, families are encouraged to sign up together. As part of their regularly scheduled programming, there is a family storytime on Wednesday evenings and four authors will be presented in programs during the 1999-2000 year. In one such program on November 18, an author and an educator will do a program for children in the afternoon and that evening will present "Parents Make Reading Happen," a program focused on turning preschoolers into lifelong readers.
Manheim
The Manheim Township School District has a mystery book contest. Book selections are made to include different genres and reading levels. One book is featured each week. Daily clues proceed from general to increasingly specific. Correct answers are recognized with an announcement, a small prize, and a group photo. A grand prize winner is drawn from weekly winners. The grand prize is a book gift certificate.
Nazareth
The Memorial Library of Nazareth targets a different elementary school in their service area every May and registers each child from K-5th grade in that school. Every registered student visits the library for a tour, a story and an introduction to the library's summer reading program.
Philadelphia
The Free Library of Philadelphia sponsors BOOKS ALOUD!, an outreach project to introduce child care staff and parents of preschoolers to books and book related activities for young children. BOOKS ALOUD! holds monthly workshops from September to June at libraries throughout Philadelphia. Participants receive a packet that includes books, activities and teaching materials.
Washington
Trinity Middle School Library is promoting reading by celebrating Teen Read Week, October 17-23. Fiction and non-fiction books will be displayed at the main entrance of the school and "Reading Rocks" posters will be hung in the cafeteria and the library. All students will be given a "Reading Rocks" bookmark when they check out a book and will be entered into a drawing to receive a free Harry Potter book.
Wyncote
Cheltenham High School Library is promoting reading by celebrating Teen Read Week, October 17-23. A display in the main lobby of the school centers on "Reading Rocks." Pllus, any student who checks out a fiction book will be entered in a drawing during Teen Read Week to win a free book.
The Lake Murray Elementary School sponsors a family-based project for kindergarten and first graders called the "Read-to-Me Club." Children receive a reading log similar to those given out at the public library for summer reading programs. They are to have 10 books read to them over the eight weeks of each cycle. Four cycles are held each school year and themes vary: "Reading turns bookworms into beautiful butterflies;" etc. After the form is completed, all participants receive a certificate and a goodie bag, again tied into the quarterly theme.
The Booker T. Washington High School Library/Media Center is using as their theme "Creating a Community of Readers" for a school-wide reading initiative. Activities they have planned include: implementation of the Accelerated Reader, the hosting of several Family Reading Nights, and monthly book review sessions by members of the community for the English classes. During the lunch period students will experience "Book Break." The center will advertise books in the media center using videos and students will submit on-line book reviews using www.schoolnotes.com.
Efforts to help students become life-long readers were made during Tennessee's Its Time to Read Week. A "Read-In", guest readers and cross-grade reading activities were scheduled. The TN It's Time to Read Steering Committee plans to continue efforts to promote reading by providing on-going literacy ideas on the Memphis City Schools Web site.
Beaumont
"2000 - THE YEAR BEAUMONT READS" is a year-long program of the Beaumont Public Library System to encourage citizens to obtain a library card and use their libraries. Activities for the celebration include concerts, photo contests, exhibits, book clubs, and much more. Mayor David W. Moore will be chairman and well-known country entertainer Tracy Byrd will be honorary chairman.
Garland
The Garland Independent School Districts, League of Latin American Citizens, Garland Association for Hispanic Affairs, and Nicholson Library System are sponsors of the annual (since 1994) Garland Hispanic Reading Challenge. Students from grades 1 - 12 in the Garland area are eligible to participate. They are required to read three books and write a 100-word essay on a specific theme. Prizes include donated computers and paperbook books. Enrollment for the challenge is 400-500 annually.
The Utah State Library for the Blind's 1999 Summer Reading Program for children, "Treasure Your Library," includes a treasure chest, activities for summer fun, a booklist, reading logs, and "loot." As reading logs are turned in, "treasures" (prizes) and gold coins are hoarded. Prizes are donated by community sponsors.
Using Upstart's "Camp Read A Lot" materials, the Appomattox Regional Library System promoted summer reading with a camping theme. Activities included storytimes, hiking, canoeing lessons, a campfire sing-a-long, and programs about trees, fishing, and wildlife. Local business and organizations donated prizes. The grand prize was a free day at a State Park donated by the Virginia State Parks.
Newport News
The Newport News Public Library System hosts its first annual Book Festival on October 15-17, 1999 at the Main Street Library. "Newport News Celebrates the Book" is a celebration of authors, books, reading, and storytelling. Three days of activities include author talks, book signings, storytelling, a meet-the-authors' reception, and a local authors' panel. The festival promotes reading and increases awareness of the services and programs offered by the Newport News Public Libraries.
Staunton
Project SUCCEED (Schools Utilizing Caring City Employees for Education and Development) volunteers listen to a school child read for one hour a week and provide encouragement, praise, and some technical support to strengthen their reading skills. This program is designed to increase reading skills, build relationships, and increase school attendance. It is a collaborative effort of the Staunton City Government, Staunton School System, Staunton Office on Youth, Staunton-Augusta Department of Social Services, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Victoria
For Victoria Public Library's"Meet a Storybook Character" project, Friends of the Library and patrons dressed up as characters from books in the library's collections. Children from local elementary and middle schools were scheduled over a two-day period to come to the library and visit with the characters. Each character "sat" (Sleeping Beauty stretched out on a small white iron cot) within their subject area with props (Twain character had a pail and pole), well-versed in their subject and ready to converse with any child who stopped by to talk. Plans call for repeating this successful project next year.
Waynesboro
In Fall 1999, Waynesboro High School is having its first ever reading promotion event - a "reading challenge" where students pledge to read five books (100 pages count as a book) in five weeks. World Book is sponsoring the event. If the students complete the pledge, the media center will hold a pizza lunch; each student will receive a certificate and prizes will be drawn. All readers must have sponsors and for every $3.00 raised, World Book will match with $1.00.
The Monona Public Library Youth Services coordinator invites guest readers from the community to storytime to celebrate National Library Week. Guests receive a list of appropriate books and "Hints and Tips" for reading to a group. Children perform a "thank you" song or fingerplay at the end of the program.
Peshtigo
Peshtigo Elementary Learning Center has a "Read Across America" project. After a state-by-state booklist was printed, travelogs were made for students in grades 4-6, using the digital camera for a passport-like format. In The travelog, students track the states they vivit through fiction. Travelogs are turned in the library as books are read so that the title of the book and name of the reader can be posted on a large map on the library bulletin board. They hope to have the map covered this school year.
Racine
To promote love for reading in the library, St. John Nepomuk School studies specific authors/illustrators and enjoys their creations. Books read by the students are recorded and honored with a small prize. Senior citizens are asked to tutor students who are not reading on level.
The Laramie County Library System issues a Century Classics Challenge to readers in grades 4 through 8. The participants were asked to read one children's classic from each decade of the 1900's from a list of titles provided by the library system. Finishers received a prize packet of coupons to area businesses.
Gillette
Library Lunching is a joint project between the Campbell County Public Library and People Project providing sack lunches and literary experiences for children daily throughout the summer. Lunches are distributed in the library courtyard as children listen to stories every noon Monday-Friday. Targets low-income families, but open to all.
Kemmerer
The Lincoln County Library offers a variety of programs, including a pre-school storytime, a summer reading program, and other special programs throughout the year.
Riverton
The Fremont County Library-Riverton Branch celebrated Read Across America by hosting a Dr. Seuss birthday pajama reading party. Everyone was encouraged to wear their pj's, bring their blanket and curl up and enjoy Dr. Seuss stories, which were read by six local guest readers. The 120 guests were encouraged to stay for refreshments and then check our a Dr. Seuss story to continue their enjoyment.
Sweetwater County
"Love of Reading Week" is a collaborative effort of the Sweetwater County Library System to raise awareness of the importance of reading to children, to develop language skills and to encourage imagination. It is observed the third week of November in schools and libraries in the county.
Library of
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