Notes from Area One of the CPS

Rosemary Barilla, reading coach from Area One of the Chicago Public Schools recently distributed 1508 books to her schools. Here are some of the responses to the books:

The donated books are great!!! As you know we work with all the genres in Reading and Writing.
The more print we have for the students to use in the classroom library is invaluable. The students were very excited about the new books to read. Melissa Larson, 6th grade teacher, Dever Elementary

The books that were donated were a valuable asset to my classroom library because they provide my students the opportunity to read and further understand concepts taught in the classroom. They cover topics in Science and Social Studies in a concise matter the children can understand. They have beautiful illustrations to help the students learn the concepts presented. Mary Stassen, 8th grade teacher, Reinberg Elementary

“Reading provides the knowledge that will determine your future. It can inspire your future. It can inspire you to achieve what you thought was unattainable. You can escape your reality, and lose yourself in someone else’s.” Jocelyn C. (student) Grade 7, Dever School

Please let the people at Rocks for Reading know how much we appreciate this welcome addition to our classroom libraries. I usually spend any extra funds I have on fiction books. Before this donation, my library was very low on nonfiction titles. One of the greatest ways to motivate students to read is by giving them a variety of choices. Until now, nonfiction has not really been a choice I offered my students. Thank you so much for donating these books!
Christina Crawford, 8th grade teacher, Hitch Elementary

The benefit of reading and/or access to books is instrumental in the progress of humankind. Who would we be without books? How would there ever have been an American Revolution without Thomas Paine’s Common Sense? Reading fills the mind with far off places, fantastical worlds and escapes from reality. The the best way to learn about anything is to read it in a story. People cling to stories about others and reading unites minds. Access to books is a privilege that should not be ignored. Heather Chron-Bernard, 8th grade teacher, Garvy Elementary

The selection of non-fiction books from “Rock for Reading” was a much needed addition to my classroom library. My classroom sees 100+ students a day, each of whom have unique interests and hobbies. The large variety of topics included in the donated books allows my students to expand their horizons. Thanks so much! – Cyndi Raisanen, Hitch Elementary

I have students fighting over books to read, so any addition to my classroom library is always helpful and appreciated by both me, my co-teacher and our students. The 8th grade goal, is to create lifelong readers, and this is how we do it…showing them books that may interest them and allowing them to take the books home to share with their families! Thanks so much! -Leah Staub, Monroe School