Book Bag Project Ready To Go!

 

Karen Metzger
Coach, Frederick Harris Elementary
Springfield, Massachusetts

Read them a story; they enjoy for the day. Teach them to read; they enjoy for a lifetime.
Give them a book, and let the enjoyment begin.

A dream ... A new book for every family, in every class, every week.
A possibility ... A book shared by every family every week.
A start... A new book read in every family in grades 1 & 2 every week.

Thank you, Cornerstone Parent Grant.

It began years ago, really. A decorated book bag, a delightful book, a plush puppet, a class journal, and a "parent-response" memo pad ... sent to a new home every night in the two first grades. The "child of the day" proudly clutching his treasure, went home, eager to gather his family for the opportunity to listen, talk, play draw and write about the story together.

More excitement the next day as the class gathered for morning meeting to share the child's illustration and thoughts about the book ... and the parent's words about the family's experience with the story. It was amazing to read these messages. In some, the happiness of a fun time enjoyed by big and small; in others, a little slice of family life gleaned through; and still others offered insight into lessons they had learned from the characters. But, tears sprang from my eyes, as I read the note that said, "thank you, we have not had a book in so long, long a time."

I was hooked. I knew I would carry this activity throughout every year. Give them the books ... and they will read. Families sharing books, and classmates eager to share their experience, became a highlight in our classroom community.

And so, an opportunity to expand the family book project became available with the Cornerstone Parent Grant. Parents enjoyed the stories, the opportunities for together time, and the "connections" to some of their old favorites. Teachers were eager to see parents involved, more stories heard, and resources available. We would send a book a week for each family.

Our goals had launched us and we set off on a "shopping spree". We chose fairy tales, folk tales, and multicultural stories as the genres of focus. We selected 21 titles for grade one and 27 titles for grade two, (2 titles more than the class size). Each of the 5 first grades has the same 21 titles, and each of the four second grades has the same 27 titles.) We purchased 213 books in all from Barnes and Noble, the Scholastic Book Fair at Harris School, and even Ocean State Job Lot. Parents stamped all the books as they eagerly perused the beautiful selection.

We designed a response journal to meet our needs and had 220 copies printed at our school department copying center. Each book title is printed on a computer label (3"x4") and placed on a journal cover. The inside of the cover has 26"sign in" lines. The journal has 30 pages. When opened, the two pages facing each other "belong" to one family. On the left, the parent responds with a comment about how the family enjoyed the book. The right page is for the child and is set up with a top half for drawing, and a lined half at the bottom for writing.

The story book and the journal are numbered and placed in a zip lock bag, labeled with the book title. (The gallon size does not zip!) These zip lock bags are placed in the child's cloth bags to go home once a week.

Our Parent Coordinator found colorful cloth bags with handles in Oriental Trading Catalog, and purchased 18 dozen. Parent and teacher volunteers wrote the children's names on the bags. On these bags we also taped a computer label (1 _"x 4") with the numbers printed 1-27. This will help with record keeping. When the bag with the book is returned, the Book # is crossed off on this label.

(The bags will go home on Thursdays, and are to be returned on Mondays.)

We composed a letter of introduction for the parents to prepare them with directions for this exciting Cornerstone adventure. A separate direction card was also printed on colored cardstock to stay in the zip lock bag.

And so we began. A kaleidoscope of book bags paraded along the snowy sidewalk, held tight by cheerful children, ready to be unwrapped in the evening ahead. Let the enjoyment begin.

We've started, and now we hope to grow.

Already, the parents are talking about expanding this project to Kindergarten and grade 3. Parents attended a Math Literacy workshop this year and are eager to include this genre for grade three. Third grade teachers have expressed a desire to include non fiction also.
Kindergarten teachers and parents would like to see the read aloud program also. They are thinking of books with rhyme, songs, abc's and "old favorites".

After the first bag return, the teachers were buzzing with praise for the families' participation. Parents and children were writing from their hearts when they penned ...

" This book (The Owl and the Pussycat) was a very vividly illustrated book to enjoy. Also, the rhyme style of the book made it fun to read. It flowed like the water from the sea." (Mom' response)

" I am wondering, why too much people is coming to the house?" (Student response to The House That Jack Built)

" We enjoy this book in different ways ... My son said its my mom can read the book for me, I can read to she. We invest almost 1 1/2 hours with the book. Thanks. (Mom)

" It's a time to spend alone together, with each other, while reading - not watching TV." (Dad's response)

January, 2004

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Frederick Harris School is a participating member in a national literacy program called Cornerstone. Cornerstone provides professional development in the school to assist teachers and parents as we support our children in their reading and writing.

One part of our Parent Involvement Grant was written to bring books into your homes to read aloud to your child on a weekly basis. The goals of this program are:

  • To foster a love of reading
  • To increase exposure to folk tales, fairy tales, and multicultural stories
  • To create an opportunity for story discussions, and the opportunity to make connections to self, our world, and other texts
  • To share literacy experiences with other families in the class via parental comments.

Each first and second grade classroom is now ready to start this exciting project. Each child will take home a book bag on Thursday each week and will return it to school on Monday.

  1. First we ask that you read aloud the story to your child.
  2. Next talk about the story with your child, engaging him/her in a conversation about the story. You might talk about the message of the story, how the story makes you feel, or what connections you have to the story.
  3. Then, write your child's name on the next numbered line on the inside cover of the journal. Ask your child to draw and write about the story in the journal. The child should write his/her name at the top.
  4. Finally, a parent should write in the journal about your family's experience or conversation while reading this book.

Happy Reading!

Sincerely,
The Cornerstone Team

Each child will take home a book bag on Thursday each week and will return it to school on Monday.

  1. First we ask that you read aloud the story to your child.
  2. Next talk about the story with your child, engaging him/her in a conversation about the story. You might talkabout the message of the story, how the story makes you
    feel, or what connections you have to the story.
  3. Then, write your child's name on the next numbered line on the inside cover of the journal. Ask your child to draw and write about the story in the journal. The child should write his/her name at the top of this page.
  4. Finally, a parent should write in the journal about your family's experience or conversation while reading the book.

Happy Reading !

Grade One Books

  1. A Story, A Story
  2. Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
  3. Cuckoo
  4. Five Chinese Brothers. The
  5. Frog Who Wore Red Suspenders, The
  6. Gingerbread Boy, The
  7. Goldilocks and the Three Bears
  8. Hansel and Gretel
  9. Henny Penny
  10. House that Jack Built, The
  11. Juan Bobo: Four Folktales
  12. Little Red Hen, The
  13. Monkey and the Crocodile, The
  14. Moon Rope
  15. No Dinner
  16. Owl and the Pussycat, The
  17. Princess and the Pea, The
  18. Three Billy Goats Gruff, The
  19. Three Little Pigs, The
  20. Tortoise and the Hare, The
  21. Why the Sky is Far Away

 

Grade Two Books

  1. Abiyoyo
  2. Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock
  3. Arrow to the Sun
  4. Borreguita and the Coyote
  5. Bunyans, The
  6. Empty Pot, The
  7. Magic Fan, The
  8. Fables
  9. Fish and a Wish, A
  10. Funny Little Woman, The
  11. Going Someplace Special
  12. Great Kapok Tree, The
  13. Juan Bobo Goes to Work
  14. Knots on a Counting Rope
  15. Koi and the Kola Nuts
  16. Legend of Indian Paintbrush
  17. Anansi and the Magic Stick
  18. My Brother Martin
  19. Peter and the Wolf
  20. Rabbit in the Moon
  21. Rumplestiltskin
  22. Sootface
  23. Stone Soup
  24. Story of Jumping Mouse
  25. Talking About Bessie
  26. Tikki Tikki Tembo
  27. Too Many Tamales