Rasco From RIF

Program of the Month: Readers and Writers in Riverdale, Maryland

January 7th, 2010

Donna Arquilla says she called RIF for six years before her school finally became a program in April 2007. Told several times that the funding was not available or that she would have to go on a waiting list, Arquilla, the reading specialist at Riverdale Elementary in Riverdale, Maryland, was convinced that RIF was very necessary for the population she served. Approximately 86 percent of Riverdale’s students receive free and reduced lunch, with the school having the third highest poverty rate in Prince George’s County. For over 80 percent of the school’s families, English is a secondary language, and while the parents want to help their children learn to read, many struggle with literacy themselves. But with the help of the community, as well as the committed parents, staff, and students, Riverdale has transformed obstacles into opportunities.

Prior to partnering with RIF, the Renowned Roadrunner Readers (or the “Triple R Club”) was formed in response to what was perceived as a lack of interest in books among Riverdale’s students.

“We knew our kids weren’t reading,” Arquilla says matter-of-factly. With a resolve to change that, she and the school principal Carol Cantu came up with the incentivized reading program centered around the school’s mascot, the roadrunner. In existence for eight years now, the club meets every Friday with the entire club donning their RRR T-shirts to motivate students to join and select books for independent reading. A large bulletin board features a roadrunner for every student member with his or her name on it. When they enroll, children are given a stuffed animal and a book, and after completing a 25-book challenge, each child receives an RRR T-shirt. The popular program has over 200 members, with representation from pre-K to 6th grade.

Last June, the once unenthusiastic readers became published authors. Collaborating with Studentreasures, a division of Nationwide Learning, Riverdale students received free professionally bound books to which each child had a chance to contribute. In fact, the 3rd through 6th-graders each penned their own books. This innovative approach to promoting literacy caught the attention of the local news and was featured in The Gazette, a Maryland-based online newspaper. Principal Cantu, who has written three books of her own including a children’s book entitled, I’m Bright Too, stumbled upon the program and thought it would be a great prospect for her kids. “I saw that every child can be an author and I just know what that feels like when you see your first book,” she says in the article.

Even with the issues of language barriers and busy schedules, parent involvement is key at Riverdale. The school involves them by assigning an agenda book for children that the parents have to sign, indicating that their children have read or have been read to. They also have a parent liaison on staff who has a small library of materials that parents can check out, including books and Leapfrog machines and software. The liaison also sponsors “Second Cup of Coffee” events, where parents can come in for various workshops and demonstrations on how to encourage their children to read.

On RIF distribution days, the whole school participates in a Drop Everything and Read Activity. The school, following county guidelines requires that each child read for at least 20 minutes every night. Receiving RIF books for their personal libraries helps this effort. “It’s a big thrill for them. They always ask, ‘Can I really keep the book?’” Arquilla says that their next distribution, which was rescheduled due to the recent snowstorm, will be on January 29th. She tentatively plans on having the DEAR activity and allowing students to film a mock television segment in the school’s TV studio, where they can talk about their favorite books. Generally Arquilla, solicits volunteers for the segments, and says that it has been a great confidence builder for struggling and reluctant readers.

In addition to being remarkable in her roles at Riverdale and as a RIF coordinator, when time permits, Arquilla is a voracious reader enjoying political novels and mysteries, particularly the works of James Patterson and John Grisham.

Happy Reading!

Unit I

Filed under: RIF Programs, RIF Programs of the Month

Tags: Program of the Month, Riverdale Maryland