-Family Literacy Day



Lynn Banghart

Sharon Kowalsky

Lisa Raney

IST 668

Assignment #3

Family Literacy Day

Event Title:

“Recycle, Reuse, and Read: Celebrating Earth Day 2010 with your library!”

We are planning this event in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day as a way to increase students’ interest in both reading and in the world around them. We want to empower students through reading and hands-on experiences to make a difference in their world, and to want to continue reading and exploring with their families after the event has ended.

School Description:

(Fictitious) Small suburban/rural elementary school in central New York with approximately 400 students in grades K-5. 52% female students, 48% male students.

20% of students come from diverse backgrounds and 10% come from households in which English is the second language. Full-time teaching staff of 30.

Target group:

Students in grades 3-5 with at least one family member attending with each student (anticipating that multiple siblings may come with one parent). We will welcome all students to participate in the event but understand that some may not be able to attend due to other extra-curricular involvement or parents’ work schedules.

Committee members:

School librarian-The school librarian will be the event coordinator. Duties include selecting a theme, planning activities, and assembling a committee to help coordinate this event. The librarian will work with members of the committee to develop the event, plan promotional items, contact any outside vendors and review the budget. The librarian will also coordinate committee members/volunteers to help families participate in all activities and ensure that several volunteers are bilingual to assist families as needed. The librarian will oversee all activities during the event. In addition, the librarian will reserve the space for the event and coordinate with the committee for set up and clean up.

Art Teacher-The art teacher will work with the committee to develop ideas and activities for the literacy event. The art teacher will provide or obtain supplies for all craft activities. During the event the art teacher will oversee the art activities, greet families and direct students and parents to various activities throughout the day.

Classroom Teachers-Classroom teachers will help integrate environmental science curriculum into the event. With the librarian, they can suggest book titles, activities and create excitement for the program in the weeks leading up to the event. Classroom teachers will be available for even t set up and clean up. During the event, teachers can greet families as they enter, read stories aloud to the group and help at activity stations. Teachers can also provide evaluation feedback.

Reading Teacher(s)- Reading Teachers will work with the committee to plan event reading activities, suggest books titles to be purchased for the library as well as for families to take home, and to provide parents with a literacy information packet. They will assist in the set up of the event and will work with the librarian to set up a comfortable atmosphere in the reading corner. During the event, reading teachers will greet families, read stories and help with activity stations or family reading corner. Reading teachers will help clean up at the end of the event and share in assessment of the program.

PTA Member(s)-PTA members help coordinate event volunteers, provide suggestions and assist with event set up, clean up and activities. PTA members can also help by networking and getting information out to parents for the event. Another duty will be the coordination of running the raffle and offering prizes throughout the day. Members of the PTA will work with the librarian to select prizes for the raffle and help to assemble take home reading kits for parents. During the event, they will be available to greet families and direct them around the event. They may also be asked to help with different activities, as well as help with the book swap.

Date and location:

• Saturday, April 24, 2010 (in conjunction with Earth Day) from 1 – 5 pm.

• School media center and gymnasium.

Timeline

Two months before event:

• Librarian gathers together committee members

• Initial Committee planning meeting

• Program development, theme, ideas for activities, work up budget

• Begin registration process by providing forms to homeroom teachers

• Individual planning and program development

• Follow-up meeting of committee members

• Contact vendors for pricing on t-shirts and other items, contact outside readers, volunteers, performers.

One month before event:

• Place orders for event themed items, ensure that school website and newsletters include announcements of the event. Include reminders during morning announcements.

• Committee member meeting to plan out agenda for day of the event

Two weeks before event:

• Librarian, PTA members, teachers will prepare take home kits, activities, raffle prizes

• Teachers and librarian engage students in conversations about the event and reminders continue on morning announcements.

One week before event:

• Committee meeting to finalize readings and activities for the event

• Reading teachers and librarian will set aside books for read alouds and for family reading corner

• Art teacher will prepare all supplies necessary for crafts

• Teachers will share information about event with their students and distribute flyers to parents

Day before event:

• Committee members will set up gym and library for the event

• Librarian and PTA members will confirm that volunteers and readers are prepared

• Prepare all activity stations and have supplies ready

Day of event:

• Librarian will share the day’s agenda with all participants

• Teachers, librarian and volunteers will enthusiastically welcome families to event

• The event will begin with a welcome to the group by the librarian

• Volunteers will be present throughout the day to photograph/take video footage of students and families as they engage in the day’s activities.

• Read aloud to the group

• Families will work at activity stations

• Refreshments available

• Read aloud

• Students and families will go to a different activity station

• Raffles throughout the day

• Families visit school library for a tour, meet with public librarian to fill out library card applications

• Students can exchange books at the book swap

• Final read aloud

• Closing remarks; event evaluation

After the event:

• Committee members will clean up

• Attendees, volunteers and committee members will share feedback about the event with the librarian

• Librarian will review event evaluations and feedback and share with the principal

Activities-

o Welcome for families

o Read aloud selections will include Jack and the Beanstalk; The Lorax and other green-themed books

o Plant seeds and decorate recycled containers to take home

o Using craft paper, yarn, and hole punches to create books to take home

o Local nature center representative will speak to students about conservation and read a corresponding book.

o Local public librarian will be on hand to assist families and students in signing up for library cards

o Book swap for students to “recycle” books in exchange for “new” books

o Families can share books in the family reading corner in the Library Media Center

o Tour of library media center for families; opportunity to check out books and

learn more about library programs

o Closing thoughts from librarian, recognition of volunteers, and encouragement to keep this new interest going and reminder that many new books will be on display throughout April in the school library. Surveys will be handed out and collected.

Attendance Incentive:

Students will be encouraged to attend the Family Literacy Day because the librarian and classroom teachers will talk about the event with the students and integrate the “Green” theme into the classroom curriculum. Students will be asked to share some of their personal books in the book swap, a great way to teach them about recycling. By swapping a book, they will have a chance to choose a new title to add to their personal library. All pre-registered students will receive an event t-shirt and reusable cloth bag to take home, along with the possibility of winning other fun prizes. This is intended to be a draw for this particular event, as well as to create more interest in similar events planned for the future.

This event will be publicized as a family fun day. Take home reading kits will be available to all attendees and will be a great resource for parents. Students will also be motivated to stay for the entire program as prizes will be awarded throughout the day.

Attendance Estimate: The estimate for event attendance will be approximately 120 students. Parents and other family members are encouraged to attend and we estimate a total of 250-300 people.

Publicity: The event will be advertised in the school’s monthly newsletter for both March and April as well as on the school’s web site. We will update the school media center’s “blog” with links to the official Earth Day web site as well as other relevant links and will ask classroom teachers to encourage students to attend. We will send flyers home, hang large posters in the main hallways and milk carton collection posters in the cafeteria.

Evaluation: Just prior to the end of the event, we will provide families and students with brief surveys (available in Spanish as needed) for them to complete, with room for comments and suggestions for future events. All volunteers will also be given surveys to allow them to share observations, suggestions, and thoughts on how the event unfolded and what was most effective. The librarian will combine the survey results as well as photos from the event into a Power Point presentation to present to the principal and faculty at the next school-wide meeting.

Follow up activities: Collaboration with classroom teachers to incorporate discussion about the program into the classroom environment. Hopefully, this will create some continued excitement that will engage students who were not able to participate in the program.

We will also provide a large display of green-themed books in the library throughout the month of April and will post photos of the event on the school media center blog as well as on the school website and the May take-home newsletter. After for to six weeks, we will reach out to students and families for photos/updates on how their new plants are coming along and will also post photos that students provide to us.

Homeroom teachers will encourage students to create hand-made thank you letters to the outside volunteers (PTA, nature center speaker, etc). Students who create green-themed handmade books will be encouraged to share their new stories with classmates. We will invite willing students to read their books while being videotaped for footage to be included in the library media center blog. This activity will allow them to feel a sense of pride in having created their own books, as well as to hopefully encourage other students who did not attend this program to attend similar events in the future.

Budget:

• Themed t-shirts for 30 volunteers $230.00

• Event t-shirts for all pre-registered students $700.00

• 50 water bottles (prizes) $225.00

• 15 new green-themed books for the school library $300.00

• Recycled brown craft paper and supplies for all students

to create their own books $500.00

• Guest speaker from local nature center $150.00

• 25 earth-themed books (prizes) $500.00

• Seeds, soil, and containers for planting activity $150.00

• 125 reusable cloth bags printed with event name and date $350..00

• 100 Recycled notepad and pen sets (prizes) $240.00

• 200 Plant-a-Seed bookmarks $170.00

• 200 flyers to take home $54.00

• 5 large posters for hallways/cafeteria $50.00

• 2 large milk carton deposit posters $20.00

• 500 pamphlets for families $500.00

• 500 surveys for families $135.00

• Refreshments, snacks, napkins, and cups, for the event $725.00

Total Budget: $4,999.00

References

Cesari, L. (2009). Going green. School Library Journal, 55(8), 40-44.

Cooper, L. Z. (2003). Read with me: A children’s shared literacy project. Knowledge Quest 32(1), 31.

The Environmental Protection Agency (2010). Earth Day for Kids. Retrieved April 6,

2010, from

Kaupscinski-Gaylord, S. (1999-2010). Making Books With Children. Retrieved April 7, 2010, from

Lamolinara, G. (2001). Back to school: Book festival event celebrates reading, literacy. Library of Congress Bulletin, 60(10), 223.

McGahey, M. (2005). Hosting a family literacy night at your school. Teacher Librarian, 32(5), 28-30.

Promotional Materials:

Official Logo:

[pic]

Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

School is celebrating Earth Day’s 40th anniversary by reading! Saturday, April 24 from 1 – 5 pm, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students at School will be learning all about the importance of going green and using their reading skills to better our earth. How? “Reading and communicating are essential to learning,” says Principal. “If you want to save the earth for a better tomorrow you have to know how to do it. The best way to learn is to read and know where to find answers to your questions.”

This special going-green event features:

• Book Recycling – students bring a book from home and swap it for someone else’s book

• A Green-Aloud – teachers, parents, and community members will be reading books in the library on the importance of protecting our planet, including The Lorax and Jack and the Beanstalk.

• Book Making – students and families can try their hand at making their own paper from recycled materials

• Reclaimed Milk Cartons – students and families can decorate their own recycled planter and take home a plant of their own!

• Raffle – all families who pre-register will receive a t-shirt, reusable cloth bag, and a chance to win fun Earth Day prizes!

The event is free to School students and their families.

To pre-register, please contact Librarian at email or phone number.

Flyer to hand out to kids in classrooms:

How can reading save the Earth?

[pic]

Find out and help us celebrate

Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary!

Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 1 – 5 pm

School Library and Gymnasium

Join us for a special day for our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders and their families!

• Book Recycling

Bring a book from home that you’ve read and recycle it!

Pick a “new” book from those that others brought in!

• A Green-Aloud

Listen to fun books about the earth, animals, and how to save our planet!

• Book Making

Make your own book from recycled materials!

• Reclaimed Milk Cartons

Decorate your own recycled planter and grow a plant of your own!

• Raffle

All families who attend have a chance to win fun Earth Day prizes!

Questions? Contact Librarian at email or phone number.

Please return this portion to your child’s teacher by April 9, 2010 to preregister for the day’s events.

All students who preregister will receive a tshirt and reusable canvas bag.

Student Name: ___________________________ Teacher: _________________________________________

Number of people attending (including the student): _________________ Student’s tshirt size: _____________

Email home to parents:

Dear parents of School’s 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students,

How can reading save the Earth?

[pic]

Find out and help us celebrate

Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary!

Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 1 – 5 pm

School Library and Gymnasium

Join us for a special day for our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders and their families!

• Book Recycling

Bring a book from home that you’ve read and recycle it!

Pick a “new” book from those that others brought in!

• A Green-Aloud

Listen to fun books about the earth, animals, and how to save our planet!

• Book Making

Make your own book from recycled materials!

• Reclaimed Milk Cartons

Decorate your own recycled planter and grow a plant of your own!

• Raffle

All families who attend have a chance to win fun Earth Day prizes!

If you have questions or would like to reregister, please contact Librarian at email or phone number.

Poster for school hallways, classrooms, cafeteria:

3rd 4th and 5th Graders:

How can reading save the Earth?

[pic]

Find out and help us celebrate

Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary!

Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 1 – 5 pm

School Library and Gymnasium

Poster for Cafeteria milk container deposit box:

Recycle your

milk cartons here!

Join us

Saturday, April 24, 2010

and find out how your

milk cartons can help save the Earth!

T-shirt and canvas bag design:

Knowledge Can Save Our Planet

Pamphlet to hand out at welcome:

Using Reading and Learning to Help Save the Planet

Earth Day Reading

Adler, David A. Cam Jansen and the Green School Mystery

Cam is excited that her school is going green but when money from the recycled-can drive goes missing, she must use her photographic memory to save the day.

Anderson, Sue Ann. The Eco-Diary of Kiran Singer

12 year old Kiran works to save a bog with her grandmother and a conservation crew, all the while keeping a fascinating diary.

Barraclough, Sue. Reusing Things

Suggestions for reusing paper, junk, bags, and clothes along with ideas for repairing and repainting instead of buying new.

Farquhar, Jackie. Try This at Home: Planet Friendly Projects for Kids

From making your own soap to “planting” a pizza, this book provides a guide to teaching kids how to be environmentally conscious.

Gliori, Debi. The Trouble with Dragons

As their population grows, the dragons use more and more of their resources until other animals who are in danger of becoming extinct give them some good ideas.

Harley, Bill. Night of the Spadefood Toads

Ben struggles to adjust to life in Massachusetts (having moved from Arizona) until his science teacher introduces him to the spadefood toad, an endangered animal living in his own back yard.

Harper, Charise Mericle. Just Grace Goes Green

Third grader Grace and her class finds ways to help the Earth.

Hiaasen, Carl. Scat

When their biology teacher disappears during a swamp field trip, Nick and Marta investigate, worried that it is somehow connected to a nearby oil drilling project.

Knight, M. J. Why Should I Care About Nature?

Focusing on habitat preservation and food chains, this book shows readers what they can do to help save the planet.

Magner, Tim. An Environmental Guide from A to Z

Each letter of the alphabet represents different Earth-saving ideas.

Michael, Pamela. River of Words: Young Poets and Artists on the Nature of Things

River of Words, a non-profit organization, sponsors a yearly international art and poetry contest for children. The best entries have been collected here.

Readman, Jo and Roberts, Ley Honor. George Saves the World by Lunchtime.

George's grandfather teaches him to do simple things - repair instead of buy new, recycle, etc. - to show George how he can be a superhero.

Readman, Jo and Roberts, Ley Honor. The World Came To My Place Today

Same characters in the previous book but this one tells readers where normal, everyday household items really come from.

Ross, Kathy. Earth-Friendly Crafts: Clever Ways to Reuse Everyday Items

Step-by-step instructions for reusing familiar objects in everyday life.

Seuss, Dr. The Lorax

This classic children’s story talks about the fictional Lorax and his desire to save the trees.

Silverstein, Shel. The Giving Tree

The story of a tree who gives selflessly of herself to the little boy who grows up playing in her branches.

Turner, Pamela. A Life in the Wild: George Schaller’s Struggle to Save the Last Great Beasts

This biography of zoologist and conservationist George Schaller shows how exotic animal research went green.

Vanerwood, Jill Ammon. What’s it Like Living Green? Kids Teaching Kids by the Way They Live

Kids and adults give first-person accounts of what it is like to live a green lifestyle. The book also gives dips and projects that can be done both in everyday life and on a larger, global scale.

Wong, Janet S. The Dumpster Diver

This story of neighborhood friendship shows how one man’s trash is another’s treasure.

Earth Day Activities

• Discuss any books you’ve heard today at your dinner table and talk about your favorite stories.

• Decorate empty tin cans and use them to grow your own herbs.

• Shut off the water when you brush your teeth.

• Buy products that are not over-packaged or use recycled materials for packaging.

• Donate old clothes, toys, or bedding that you no longer need.

• Use reusable bags at the grocery store and at the mall.

• Walk, ride your bike, or carpool whenever possible.

• Save egg cartons, cereal boxes, twist-ties, and newspaper for crafts.

• Turn off the TV and read at least once a week to save electricity.

• Sign the Earth Day pledge

Earth Day Pledge

Discuss as a family what you can do to be a greener family then have each member sign below.

We, the ____________ family, pledge to try to do these 5 things as a family to try to do our part to save the Earth.

1. Read together as a family instead of watching TV at least one night a week.

2. __________________________

3. __________________________

4. __________________________

5. __________________________

Signed,

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