LITERACY SPECIAL PROJECTS GRANTS

2010-2011 Literacy Grant Winners

By Carol Folk, Literacy Grant Chair

Linda Eng – Mid-Valley Council -    “Is there a Seuss in the House?”

             The Grant will purchase books to give to children at a local mall. The local Council is partnering with 5 different local organizations.  It is the 2^nd year of the event and is open to all. Last year about 175 children received books and participated in the event.

Carol Lauritzen – Mountain Valleys Council -   “Feed Your Mind”

             Grant will purchase books locally to give to children who come to the food bank. The area has a high poverty rate and it has been difficult to get books into the hands of children of real poverty.  Local paper will cover the activity. 

Susan Coleman – Mid-Valley Council -   “Spanish Club”

            A service learning class for over 90 Middle Schoolers partners with local 2^nd and 3^rd graders to teach literacy strategies through listening and speaking, reading and writing activities.  Grant money will be used for teacher resource and activity books and Spanish bilingual books for shared reading.

Jan Johnson – Sunset Council -     “Parade of Heroes”

            Books will be purchased to be distributed at the August Regatta Parade by local council members and their families dressed up as book characters.  A decorated Book Truck will be carrying books and “characters” with an ORA/SRA banner.  Books will include bookmarks with ORA/Sunset Reading Council info.  Several hundred children from toddlers to middle schoolers will receive books. This will be the 3^rd year.

Christy Shaver – Portland Council -    “Book Nook Fund”

                 The grant will purchase newer, high-interest, popular books for the Book Nook which offers students the opportunity to “shop” for a new or gently used book to add to their home library.  The privilege is given to students who are “caught reading” as part of school-wide behavior support program.  About 20-40 students per week get books!

Rebecca Bard – Portland Council -    “DC on Wheels”

            This literacy specialist loads her van with books and brings them to lower-income housing areas to give away to students throughout the summer, getting volunteer donations and help. This will be the 2^nd summer of the program.  Grant money will be used to purchase popular, new, high-interest books.

Margie Lawler – Portland Council -    “Read Around the World”

            The grant will purchase books and other current resources to help students make connections with and learn about the places they study when preparing for the “Passport Club Check Days”, a geography program for all 2^nd to 8^th graders involving students and their families.

Erin Boxell –Portland Council -   “Lights! Camera! Action!”

            Readers’ theater scripts will be purchased  which will be laminated and housed in the school media center for 550 students at Butler Creek Elementary to help struggling readers become motivated, fluent readers through repeated rereadings as they practice to perform.  This is part of a plan designed by teachers to improve their students’ fluency.

Joan Flora –Portland Council -    “Picture Books”

            The grant will purchase picture books that 9^th and 10^th grade reluctant readers practice by reading multiple times, then record as digital books for 1^st-3^rd graders.  The high schoolers create and record via Garage Band on the computers including sound effects and music.  The high school students package their product, then visit the elementary children and provide time for listening to the books and having discussion.  This project involves about 135 high schoolers and 200 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd graders.

Heidi Reinker –Vineyard Valleys -  “Graphic Novels in Power Hour”

            This Title 1 Assistant reads with students individually and in groups in an after school program.  The grant will go to purchase graphic novels, very popular and highly-motivating, to read to and with students.  This program includes autistic, ELL, and  special needs students as well as those with higher skills.  These books will be used to inspire writing projects as students are encouraged to write parts of a graphic novel, or even whole books on their own.