by Martina Barbour, Literacy Director
Our fantastic Library Coordinators expose our students to a variety of books throughout the year through read alouds, thematic displays, and book talks. We like to further encourage this love of reading by bringing in local authors and storytellers. This year, we were able to host author visits at all four of our partner schools!
Pamela Groves of Baby Wordplay came to Potter-Thomas and Bethune in the fall to do storyplays for the Kindergarten classes. Baby Wordplay’s mission is to engage young readers by making read alouds fun! Her use of age appropriate books that highlight vocabulary, language play and experimentation, rhythm and silliness are always a hit. She incorporates songs, puppets, and props to help bring the stories alive. Miss Pam is a wonderful model for our teachers and parents, too – showing them the best books and songs to engage their children and offering tips for making reading an enjoyable, bonding time. Her emphasis on books with diverse characters allows the children to see themselves mirrored in the stories she shares.
Miss Pam also joined us for this year’s Reading Festival at the grounds where she read, sang, and inspired kids under the trees. You can bring Ms Pam into your home by listening to her Baby Wordplay podcast that allows families to continue to connect with her and her work.
In the spring, Thembi Palmer of Imagine More Story Adventures visited 1st & 2nd graders at Julia De Burgos and Hartranft. Thembi began by sharing her book, This Book May Make You Do Things. It is a dynamic story that is all about getting kids moving and using their imaginations. She asked the children to imagine themselves as animals, bubbles, the wind, and trees. They use their bodies to spin and dance, jump and play! Like Miss Pam, Thembi uses music and props (scarves, shakers, parachutes) to make the experience even more engaging. The reading of the book became an interactive performance between her and the students and they simply loved it.
After reading the book together, Thembi allowed time for questions and shared a bit about her process of writing the book. She also asked the children for their input, inquiring if they have ever written a book of their own and about their processes. It turns out we have lots of authors and aspiring authors at our schools and they had a lot to say! When Thembi asked for their advice about writing a book and about what she should write next, the children answered “Write about your childhood!” or “write about food!” or “write about your family”. At the end of the program, students each receive a signed copy of her book. This was very exciting for them and they were looking forward to sharing the book with their families and friends.
While talking with some teachers and observers of the programs, we all agreed how important movement is for the children. Outside of brief recess periods and weekly gym class, the children have little opportunity throughout their days to move their bodies. We know how important this movement is to their development, regulating the nervous system, and helping them spend their boundless energy. Allowing them a chance to move and be creative with this movement feels crucial and is such an exciting part of what both of our storytellers were able to share. Educational researchers have also found that physical movement during learning can help activate multiple neural networks, potentially creating stronger memory pathways for new information.
As the school year winds down, we’re also excited to be welcoming local author Marni Fogelson in June to meet with a 5th grade class that read her book The Girl Who Heard the Music: How One Pianist and 85,000 Bottles and Cans Brought New Hope to an Island.
We are so grateful to be part of contributing to the rich literacy environments at each of our partner schools and look forward to sharing even more stories and authors with our amazing young readers in the future!
