LITERACY SPECIAL PROJECTS GRANTS

2008-2009 Literacy Grant Recipients

Submitted by René Dernbach, Literacy Grant Chair

The Oregon Reading Association is pleased to announce the 2008-2009 winners of its annual Literacy Project Grants. Each of the 15 grant winners has received $200. Selection criteria included clarity, completeness, project impact, value in promoting literacy, use of effective literacy practices, sustainability and the applicant’s membership in ORA.

Winners are:

Ridgewood Student Library Advisory Club. Deborah Alvarez, Portland Reading Council To promote student interest in literacy, fourth and fifth grade students will guide a school-wide process for selecting new books for their school library.

John Tuck's Pre-K Literacy Carnival. Alisha Anderson, Three Sisters Reading Council To help all of John Tuck Elementary School's incoming Kindergarteners experience the joy of reading, literacy carnivals will be held in February and May, 2009.

Cookbooks to Promote Literacy. Dana Buttler, Portland Reading Council In conjunction with an author visit from Deborah Hopkinson, author of Fannie in the Kitchen, fourth grade students will evaluate and purchase children's cookbooks for Beaver Acres Elementary School library.

Brava Tutti, Mother Goose!: Literacy learning through Mini-operas. Katherine Elstrom, Vineyard Valleys Reading Council Through daily listening, reading, singing, moving, storytelling and creating music, Kindergarten students will experience Mother Goose rhymes and create mini operas.

Audio Books. Joan Flora, Portland Reading Council Ninth and tenth grade students at Canby High School will make books come alive for first grade students at Trost Elementary School when they create multi-lingual audio recordings of books selected especially for these young students involved in a dual language program.

Fun with Figurative Language. Brian Hutchins, Driftwood Reading Council Age appropriate toolboxes will be filled with quality picture books that highlight figurative language forms for intermediate grade students in District 9 in Coos Bay.

Take-Home Teacher Read-Alouds. Tiffany Lewis, Emerald Empire Reading Council Teachers at Riverbend Elementary School will create CD's of their favorite books and these CD's and respective books can be checked out by their students for a unique at-home read-aloud experience.

Students + Authors = Authentic Learning. Mallory Marquet, Mid-Valley Reading Council Graham Salisbury, author of Eyes of the Emperor and Under the Blood Red Sun, will be invited to present a special program for eighth graders and meet informally over lunch with all students at North Albany Middle School.

Is There a Dr. (Seuss) in the House? Mid-Valley Reading Council The Mid-Valley Reading Council will match the Oregon Reading Association grant and purchase engaging English and Spanish board books to place in thirteen pediatric waiting rooms at the Corvallis Clinic.

Literacy Books to Teach Writing Skills. Karen Perry, Mid-Valley Reading Council Second grade students at Liberty Elementary School will have an opportunity to learn about the six writing traits through award-winning fiction and non-fiction books.

Audio Books on Demand. Linda St. Pierre, Capital Reading Council MP3 players with recording features will assist Washington Elementary students in recording popular stories on CD's for sharing with each other as they work to improve their reading fluency.

Professional Reading Group at Bridger Elementary. Michelle Schardt, Portland Reading Council Kindergarten through eighth grade teachers will form a book club to read Research-Based Strategies for English Language Learners as they work collaboratively to meet the needs of their multi-lingual students.

Digital Voice Recorders for Improved Reading and Beyond. Carol Sherwood, Umpqua Reading Council Three digital voice recorders will be purchased to assist students with analyzing and improving their reading fluency.

Searching, Always Searching for a Better Life. Kristen Taylor, Capital Reading Council Non-fiction trade books that focus on the immigrant experience will be purchased to enhance a growing GLAD unit on immigration for fourth grade students at Dual Language Bilingual School.

Reading to Write. Cyndi Wofford, Mid-Valley Reading Council As they focus on writing traits, Jefferson Elementary School will purchase exemplary picture books for their nascent teacher resource center. * * * *