CBS Community Read
Posted by Douglas R. Ibarguen
Farmington Rotary Club obtained a District Simplified Grant to sponsor a Community Read at Cascade Brook School. Schedule is included.
Farmington Rotary obtained a District Simplified Grant to sponsor a Community Read at Cascade Brook School, a grade four through six school with an enrollment of 275 students, located in Farmington Maine. Students, staff, local Rotarians and community members will all read the book Rules, by Maine author Cynthia Lord. On May 3rd through May 7, 2010, those who have read the book will gather for a series of activities and discussions related to the book.
The goal of the Community Read is to encourage literacy by demonstrating to students that adults place value in reading. Students, many from very low income families, will benefit from seeing all the staff, including teachers, custodians, educational technicians, secretaries and lunch workers, parents, and local Rotarians from varied careers model reading. The objective is to emphasize the importance of reading, increase literacy in a positive environment, and to make reading fun. After this project, the books funded by this program may be re-used again at two other local elementary schools to run a similar program.
Rules also incorporates the 2010 Cascade Brook School theme of improving school climate. The book is told from the point of view of a twelve year old girl who has a brother with autism. She creates rules for her younger brother to help him understand normal social cues. The book's protagonist also learns the meaning of friendship by befriending a boy with a disability, and working through issues with a "normal" friend.
Our District Simplified Grant has paid for 400 copies of the book Rules. In addition, 50 copies of Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byers and 50 copies of True Confessions by Janet Tashjian will be available for students and adults who would like to read more about disabilities. Audio books have been purchased to insure that all students can participate in the Community Read. Money from the grant will also provide for material for a picnic table to be built by Rotarians, Interact members and Rotaract members. This will provide valuable space for students from all groups at Cascade Brook to gather and work at cooperative activities. In addition, project items for students in the Elementary Transition Program will be purchased so those students can work together with mainstreamed students, fostering a stronger and more integrated school climate.
In addition to the District Simplified Grant, we were fortunate to obtain a private grant which will pay for the author to spend a day at Cascade Brook School. Cynthia Lord will speak to all of the students about her award winning book, and her life as an author. She will also meet with the staff early on May 3rd, and stay later meeting parents and community members. Other activities will include a community wide round table discussion, student book reflections, panel discussions for both adults and children, and activities to better understand people with disabilities.
The students and staff of Cascade Brook are eagerly looking forward to the Community Read. It promises to be a wonderful week !
CBS Community Read Schedule May 3 - 7, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010 Cynthia Lord
8:00 - 8:30 Coffee hour, opportunity for staff to buy and have Cynthia Lord sign books.
9:15 - 10:15 Group 1 in cafetorium
10:30 - 11:30 Group 2 in cafetorium Bag lunch in classrooms
1:15 - 2:15 Group 3 in cafetorium
2:30 - 3:30 Opportunity for parents and public to buy and have Cynthia Lord sign books
Cynthia is also willing to have lunch with a small group of selected students.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Mini book reflections in classrooms. "Make own rules for their lives."
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
9:30 - 10:30 Small student and community member book discussions, located in classrooms and throughout the building.
Need a CBS person to facilitate at every table.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Activities in the classroom.
Have students line up alphabetically without talking.
Do fine motor skills wearing gloves. (writing/tying shoes...
Martina's blindness goggles.
Tape thumbs to hand and try to do every day skills.
Prepare questions for Sibling and Student Panel
6:30 - 7:30 Parent panel discussion including Iris Silverstein, and parents of handicapped children. Invite public, parents and Rotarians.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Sibling and student Panel
Group 1 9:15 to 10:45
Group 2 10:50 to 10:30
Group 3 1:00 to 1:30
End of the Day Activity 2:15 to 2:55
Student Song
Pre-selected student reflections
Presentation of picnic table and items for Kevin McShane by Pam West and Rotary Members
The goal of the Community Read is to encourage literacy by demonstrating to students that adults place value in reading. Students, many from very low income families, will benefit from seeing all the staff, including teachers, custodians, educational technicians, secretaries and lunch workers, parents, and local Rotarians from varied careers model reading. The objective is to emphasize the importance of reading, increase literacy in a positive environment, and to make reading fun. After this project, the books funded by this program may be re-used again at two other local elementary schools to run a similar program.
Rules also incorporates the 2010 Cascade Brook School theme of improving school climate. The book is told from the point of view of a twelve year old girl who has a brother with autism. She creates rules for her younger brother to help him understand normal social cues. The book's protagonist also learns the meaning of friendship by befriending a boy with a disability, and working through issues with a "normal" friend.
Our District Simplified Grant has paid for 400 copies of the book Rules. In addition, 50 copies of Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byers and 50 copies of True Confessions by Janet Tashjian will be available for students and adults who would like to read more about disabilities. Audio books have been purchased to insure that all students can participate in the Community Read. Money from the grant will also provide for material for a picnic table to be built by Rotarians, Interact members and Rotaract members. This will provide valuable space for students from all groups at Cascade Brook to gather and work at cooperative activities. In addition, project items for students in the Elementary Transition Program will be purchased so those students can work together with mainstreamed students, fostering a stronger and more integrated school climate.
In addition to the District Simplified Grant, we were fortunate to obtain a private grant which will pay for the author to spend a day at Cascade Brook School. Cynthia Lord will speak to all of the students about her award winning book, and her life as an author. She will also meet with the staff early on May 3rd, and stay later meeting parents and community members. Other activities will include a community wide round table discussion, student book reflections, panel discussions for both adults and children, and activities to better understand people with disabilities.
The students and staff of Cascade Brook are eagerly looking forward to the Community Read. It promises to be a wonderful week !
CBS Community Read Schedule May 3 - 7, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010 Cynthia Lord
8:00 - 8:30 Coffee hour, opportunity for staff to buy and have Cynthia Lord sign books.
9:15 - 10:15 Group 1 in cafetorium
10:30 - 11:30 Group 2 in cafetorium Bag lunch in classrooms
1:15 - 2:15 Group 3 in cafetorium
2:30 - 3:30 Opportunity for parents and public to buy and have Cynthia Lord sign books
Cynthia is also willing to have lunch with a small group of selected students.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Mini book reflections in classrooms. "Make own rules for their lives."
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
9:30 - 10:30 Small student and community member book discussions, located in classrooms and throughout the building.
Need a CBS person to facilitate at every table.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Activities in the classroom.
Have students line up alphabetically without talking.
Do fine motor skills wearing gloves. (writing/tying shoes...
Martina's blindness goggles.
Tape thumbs to hand and try to do every day skills.
Prepare questions for Sibling and Student Panel
6:30 - 7:30 Parent panel discussion including Iris Silverstein, and parents of handicapped children. Invite public, parents and Rotarians.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Sibling and student Panel
Group 1 9:15 to 10:45
Group 2 10:50 to 10:30
Group 3 1:00 to 1:30
End of the Day Activity 2:15 to 2:55
Student Song
Pre-selected student reflections
Presentation of picnic table and items for Kevin McShane by Pam West and Rotary Members