Archive for May, 2009
CHILDREN ARE HUNGRY ACROSS AMERICA
- It is difficult to talk about feeding children’s minds when they are literally hungry. The Last Hope for Hungry Kids from the Washington Post on Saturday, May 30 is like articles we all see, stories we are increasingly hearing everywhere. As literacy advocates we must join the voices supporting policy makers who are seeking ways to insure our nation’s hungry young children are fed.
MORE ON THE TROUBLING ACHIEVEMENT GAP
- William Brock, Ray Marshall, and Marc Tucker outline in a Washington Post column on Saturday, May 30, 10 Steps to World-Class Schools. I am particularly pleased to see their call for the coordination of social services with school services as well as read where they note all states should “Offer high-quality early-childhood education to, at a minimum, all 4-year-olds and all low-income 3-year-olds.”
- Rod Paige, former Secretary of the U. S. Department of Education, wrote this weekend in The Houston Chronicle the “Race gap in education must be closed.” He starts with “Before now, I’ve not thought much of ‘first African-American’ designations, but President Obama’s nomination of African-American astronaut Charles F. Bolden to become the next NASA administrator thrilled me.” Of particular interest is his statement echoing many others in saying “Closing the educational achievement gap between minority and white children is the civil rights issue of our time.”
May 31st, 2009
What a great Day of Dialog the School Library Journal produced Friday. Thank you, SLJ! I posted notes about the first two panels yesterday and will “tease” you with a few notes about the remainder of the day here. Next week I will share more of the actual dialogue from the day.
Prior to lunch Jane Smiley (A Thousand Acres) was interviewed and how entertaining she is! Jane’s first children’s book—The Georges and the Jewels—will be released this fall, and she shared with us many wonderful snapshots of the story as well as events and people in her life that are reflected in the book.
Following lunch the always great Jerry Pinkney made a presentation and interacted with the audience regarding his new fall release, The Lion and the Mouse. I had seen a preview copy on a Little, Brown table as I arrived for the Day of Dialog and could not touch the lush drawing quickly enough…simply wow!
A special treat also was provided in Panel Three when the five co-sponsoring publishers gave us a preview of the hottest books for the fall in addition to the Smiley and the Pinkney books. Be prepared for some fun titles and exciting new characters! I hope to read some of these advance copies I received during the 48 Hour Challenge next weekend and will report on them then.
The final panel of the day was a discussion titled “The Multiplatform Novel: From Print to Web to Social Network.” A thought provoking conversation regarding “the expansive fictional worlds that mix books with digital technology.” Panelists discused next fall’s release of The Amanda Project and the current 39 Clues plus Earthgirl. It sets my mind racing with excitement to hear these projects discussed as I start thinking of the many, many children who can be engaged with books who might not get “hooked” otherwise!
On all these topics covered yesterday, I say “more later” once I digest and piece my many notes and initial trains of thought together.
And finally, a big thank you to Elizabeth Bird of Fuse #8 for her great entry recently about the musical Coraline in preview in New York. It was all she said it would be and more!
Happy reading!
Carol
May 29th, 2009
For our third RIF Program of the Month for May, we recognize Chickasaw Nation Head Start of Ada, Oklahoma. Chickasaw Nation Head Start has been providing children in need with free books since 2001. They currently serve 256 children between the ages of 3 and 5. The volunteer coordinator for this RIF program is Regina Anderson who is also the Parent Involvement/Social Service Manager. Anderson is dedicated to ensuring that her children participate in RIF. Her program makes use of all resources from RIF, which has only made the program stronger. Teachers in the school even connect to RIF.org via their “smart boards” so children can actively participate in online literacy motivational activities. Because of the great impact the RIF program has made in their school, parental involvement has soared.
Happy Reading!
Henry Dunbar, RIF Director of Communications
May 29th, 2009
(From left to right.) Rose Brock of Coppell, Texas ISD; Jon Scieszka, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and founder of the Guys Read project; and Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax (Nova Scotia) Public Libraries.
Panel 2 of today’s School Library Journal’s Day of Dialog is addressing the issue of “How do we get more boys interested in reading?”. Hurray! Wow, what great panelists and watch for the program “Guys Listen” that will launch soon!
More later…
May 28th, 2009
Panel 1 today at the School Library Journal’s Day of Dialog is underway! Betsy Bird of Fuse #8 on the right is moderating a lively discussion on blogs: L to R are Cheryl Klein of Brooklyn Arden, Liz Burns of A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy; Laura Lutz of Pinot and Prose; and Libba Bray ,an author.
May 28th, 2009
(From left to right.) A Club RIF podium sign. Pat Heck and Cody Ruxton (RIF staff). Club RIF Alumni.
Greetings,
This is Cody Ruxton again returning from another inspiring trip to visit RIF volunteers. In previous posts, I have shared about my visits to Kentucky, Alabama, and California to visit the 2009 Anne Richardson RIF Volunteer of the Year Award winners (VOYA). Next week, we will welcome these three outstanding individuals and their nominators to D.C. where they will share their stories with staff, the RIF Board of Directors and congressional representatives, as well as be honored at the RIF Gift of Reading Gala.
In my six years at RIF, the day we get to hear the speeches from the VOYAs is hands-down my favorite day of the year. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy seeing RIF kids at book distributions and working on the RIF mission from the national office, but hearing how these individuals have tirelessly used their talents and creativity to help children discover the joy of reading and left their thumbprints on thousands of books selected over the years is very, very special.
I wasn’t lucky enough to hear one VOYA give her speech in person, but I recently attended Pat Heck’s retirement party. Pat is our Arizona RIF Ambassador, 2000 VOYA and founder of Club RIF in Mesa, Arizona. For over two decades this unique program has received many accolades including being named a National Point of Light, RIF Program Excellence Honors, and so much more. The second thing central to this RIF program besides Pat is the fact that it was built around the energy of high school students who act as reading buddies, distribution planners, and publicity leaders for the RIF effort in the community.
Pat’s retirement event was full of old photos, kind words, and a wonderful line-up of speakers. Many fellow educators told stories of Pat as a reading specialist, book lady, and champion of glitter and fun. Letters were read from RIF Board Member Lynda Johnson Robb and fellow VOYA Christina Gee. Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard gave remarks about the program and Rep. Harry Mitchell even had Pat’s accomplishments documented in the congressional record.
Pat may have retired from teaching but I don’t think she will ever retire from RIF. Undaunted by the fact that the club would not continue after she was no longer employed by the school, it has quickly found a home amid the many graduates of the RIF class and club. Pat’s retirement party was also the launch of the Club RIF Alumni program. The group will continue to serve at-risk youth with book distributions at an area homeless shelter and American Indian reservation. As a new twist, Pat and her alumni will soon go online to connect and coordinate two decades of Club RIF members in the effort.
More than 125 people gathered for dinner, sharing, and planning. The theme of the evening, as stated by acting Club President Brianna Bramanti, was connections. The event was to share how everyone was connected and motivated by Pat and in the spirit of the new Alumni group—what connections could be made for the new chapter of RIF in Mesa. And fun was never too far away, from the button nametags that attendees wore to video clips of Pat twirling a baton to concluding the evening with dancing with a live disco band.
When I was asked to share a few words, I recalled a line from Where the Wild Things Are, “Let the wild rumpus start.” As much as she tried to share credit for the wild rumpus that engaged so many, Pat Heck has been and will continue to be a wonderful rumpus leader for RIF.
Cody Ruxton, Manager of Volunteer Engagement
May 27th, 2009
I really like the simplicity of the two words between the skyscraper…and my mind races to all kinds of ideas about what those “words” can “build”…Let’s look inside!
Submit your cover story here!
Happy Reading!
Carol
May 26th, 2009
SUMMER READING: I was honored to be invited to a meeting last week where First Lady Michelle Obama outlined a summer of volunteer service she and the President will promote. One key component of this effort will be focused on children and reading. The initiative will be announced in late June and span a three-month period. Stay tuned for more details!
THE TROUBLING ACHIEVEMENT GAP: Three studies of note just crossed my desk in relation to the Achievement Gap discussion I posted on May 21:
- 10th Annual Mother’s Day Report Card from Save the Children. In brief, the United States ranked very close to the bottom among wealthy nations in providing services to prepare children for school. It is the first year the report has looked at the 158 countries surveyed as to how well governments support children’s early learning opportunities. Of the 158 countries evaluated, 25 are wealthier nations that are part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Among this subset of 25 nations, the U.S. ranked above only Australia, Canada, and Ireland. The U.S. was 27th out of 158 on the full ranking. The full report can be accessed at www.savethechildren.org/publications/state-of-the-worlds-mothers-report.
- Gordon MacInnes, former assistant commissioner for Abbott implementation at the New Jersey Department of Education, has outlined in his book In Plain Sight: Simple, Difficult Lessons from New Jersey’s Expensive Effort to Close the Achievement Gap (http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=PB&pubid=675) how school districts used the additional funds provided to work toward closing the achievement gap. Education Daily notes that in a recent forum it was suggested the results of the New Jersey experience might be instructive to states as spending is outlined for stimulus dollars.
- The Schott Foundation for Public Education released on May 19 a report Lost Opportunity: A 50-State Report on the Opportunity to Learn in America. (http://www.schottfoundation.org/) Bottom line: On the scale used in this study, 84% of states do not offer low-income students a strong opportunity to learn. Dr. John Jackson, president and CEO of the Schott Foundation noted, “The state data is clear. If you are a Black, Latino, American Indian, or low-income student in this country, odds are you are not receiving high-quality learning opportunities.” It was also noted in the report low-income students have the highest opportunity to learn in those states with low minority populations. Data can be found at www.otlstatereport.org.
May 26th, 2009
I give children’s books on many different occasions; to children, adolescents, and to adults on some occasions. One of my favorite new books to give when there is the loss of a tooth is You Think It’s Easy Being the Tooth Fairy? This is not a “pink flouncing skirts or twinkling glass slippers” kind of tooth fairy. This one says “Me, I’m an action kind of gal. I live for danger! For suspense!” The illustrations of this fairy, with a bright purple outfit and her whimsical red-orange hair, make it a book that provokes giggles and smiles in children and adults alike. The fairy gives excellent tips for things you should and should not do with a tooth you have “lost” as well as shares a bit about the special equipment she invented, the “Tooth-o-Finder” being one such item. There are endpapers showing the community at night (front) and some recent children visited by the tooth fairy (back). My, what lively conversations can grow from the imaginative perspectives given by this busy, busy fairy!
Happy reading over this holiday weekend!
Carol
May 22nd, 2009
On May 17, 1954, in a unanimous ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court stated in the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka that “separate educational facilities [for blacks and whites] are inherently unequal.” Now, 55 years later, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) shows that African American, Hispanic and American Indian children are part of a persistent achievement gap that divides our nation’s students along these racial and socioeconomic lines and has made this education inequality issue THE civil rights issue of the 21st century. The Education Equality Project held a rally in Washington, D.C., on May 16 with buses from 22 cities bringing advocates for children and children themselves; it appears very possibly the discussion of this gap may be gaining new and increased momentum. RIF sincerely hopes so.
What is RIF doing to contribute to the action toward eliminating the gap? RIF is dedicated to a Multicultural Literacy Initiative to bring the joy of reading to all children in order to motivate them to continue to work hard on literacy skills and expand their horizons. We are guided in this work by a Multicultural Advisory Committee led by Dr. Claude Mayberry from the RIF board of directors. The initiative was launched more than two years ago with the strong support of Macy’s and that support continues today. RIF advocates for all children to have access to books including ones they own, in well-stocked libraries, and in their classrooms.
These books serve as both “mirrors and windows”: books that mirror the individuals’ own culture, and books that open windows to other cultures. For a fuller description, read the article “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors” (1) by Rudine Sims Bishop, Ph.D., who is retired from Ohio State University and serves on RIF’s Literature Advisory Board. This board is chaired by Violet Harris, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Additionally, when many individuals hear the preceding statements about cultures they think only of heroic portrayals in history, but children need both a sense of epic history as well as individual models of society at its best. Kekla Magoon in a recent interview at Fuse #8 said it well when talking about her most recent book The Rock and the River :
“I’ve realized in writing this book that the way we tell history to kids is very hero-focused. It’s especially true of Black History. How does the story go? There was slavery, then Abraham Lincoln. Segregation, then Rosa Parks. Then Dr. King came along, and now we’re all living happily ever after. Ummm…simplified much?”
All food for thought and topics for further entries.
Carol
1) Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors. Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom. Vo. 6, no. 3. Summer 1990.
May 21st, 2009
Previous Posts
