Photos from a book donation
Kari Jo Bank Wagner from North River Elementary School sent us some recent photos:
To read some letters we have received from students and teachers, please go to our two new pages:
From Joann Barry, Librarian, Gallistel Language Academy
I cannot thank you enough for the generous donation you made to Gallistel Language Academy’s library for the kindergarten through fourth grades! The students could not have been more excited to get these books. I couldn’t get them out of the boxes and catalogued fast enough. The multiple copies of Dr. Seuss books are very useful for small reading groups while in library. Our third and fourth graders were so excited to get new fiction books to read and share with one another.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Joann Barry, Librarian, Gallistel Language Academy
From Kandace Weber at Pilsen Community Academy
Pilsen Community Academy would like to give a big thanks to Rock for Reading and your generous book donation. Many of the books are currently being cataloged and processed for the school library, making them available to the entire school community. The rest of the books are going to teachers for their classroom libraries. We plan to distribute the remaining copies to students during our Family Literacy Night. Thanks to you, students are already enjoying the wide selection of fiction and nonfiction books. The younger students are really excited about the new, complete collection of Dr. Seuss books, while the older students are devouring the range of fiction chapter books and non-fiction titles. We cannot begin to thank you enough for the awesome reading opportunities you have given the Pilsen Community Academy community!!
THANK YOU!! Kandace Weber Teacher Librarian Pilsen Community Academy
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
Marathon Commentary
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you ladies for everything you did to organize and motivate those of us running for reading this year. I had an awesome time on Sunday (as in fun time, though I was really proud of my 3:46, a good 22 minutes better than my old p.r.!) and even though by mile 17 I swore I’d never do another marathon, I’m already thinking about the next one. It was definitely more meaningful because I knew I was running for a cause I believe in, and the whole fundraising process was actually really enjoyable. I’m really glad I stumbled upon Rock For Reading earlier this year, and I am so grateful for all the time you guys put into this team.
Thanks, and hope you runners are feeling great this week!
Michaela Shafar
Hamilton School back to school party!
On Sunday August 30th, principal James Gray convened the firsat annual back to school reading gathering. We donated a good selection of books to the school, and were invited to attend.
Upon my arrival, I heard the band break into a great version if Sweet Child of Mine (Guns and Roses) which included a perfect guitar solo by the lead guitarist,
Books were stacked everywhere for kids to pick out and take home!
Or to read while listening to the music.
From Principal Gray:
On Sunday August 30th, Hamilton Elementary, had its first annual Rock for Reading Back to School Picnic. Over 4000 books were distributed to approximately 175 of Hamilton’s students. The 300 attendees listened to live music from the student band Shockwave of the Music House, as well as Definition Chaos, a band from Franklin Fine Arts Center.
Students, famililes and community members were thrilled to listen to great music and get new books at the Rock for Reading picnic. Principal James Gray said, “I am thrilled to partner with the Rock for Reading Organization. Hamilton is a Fine and Performing Arts Magnet Cluster School and the link between music and literacy is obvious to me. Thank you for your support!”
Thanks!
James Gray
Principal
Hamilton Elementary
From Allison Vander Wood of Pershing School
Books have always played an important role in my life. From my younger years, when I sat curled on the laps of my parents, absorbing each word of the stories they read, to my life today, where books are my commuting companion, filling my time between home and school on the El and the bus. And, between those younger years and my life today, it was books that paved my educational road, defining not only years in school, but important teachers, friends, and moments that have shaped me into the person I am today. Books were one thing that my home always had an excess of—spilling from tables, bookshelves, and piling next to the beds of my siblings and I. So, it was natural that as I began planning my very first classroom last summer, the classroom library was at the top of my to-dos.
I shopped in second-hand stores, ordered online, and asked other teachers for their “left-overs” so I could start filling my bins and shelves. From Day 1 last September, books, and not just textbooks, have defined my students’ learning experiences. Read aloud is a precious time of each day, and students sit, amazingly silent and captivated, as I breathe life into the pages before me. Unfortunately, for most of my students, the walls of our classroom are where the importance of books begins and ends. My students do not come from backgrounds that make the boundless books of my childhood possible. In fact, I began to grow aggravated one day when I noticed books missing from our classroom library. Later, when students had left, I sat reflecting on the missing books, realizing that the missing books were merely a sign of the lack of books at home.
Which is why, when Rock for Reading contacted my school with a list of dozens and dozens of books that were available—for free!—for students, my heart began to race. My students are eager, bright learners. Reading is a sacred time in our classroom. I knew that my students would immediately fall in love with any new books, nevertheless books that they could keep.
I placed my order, and let the four boxes sit on our back table for a couple of days. My students kept asking “What is in those boxes?!” I assured them that a day would come when we would see, and would only say “They are a gift for each of you.” I wanted that anticipation to build. I could feel their eyes staring down those boxes, thinking that if they stared long enough, or hard enough, they would surely see through the cardboard. Finally, the day had come. I slowly made my way to the back table. I think one of my girls squealed because they knew what was coming. I turned around to face my students—faces that are carved into my heart in a way I never knew possible. I placed my hands on the flaps of a box, and cheers erupted. I hadn’t even opened the boxes yet! Calmly, trying to contain my excitement myself, I said “We have been very lucky this year. A lot of people have donated things to our classroom to help us get a better education. These strangers do not even know us, but they care, and they want you to be able to learn.” I waited a quiet moment before continuing. “Some very generous people have decided that we need to some books—“ I hadn’t finished the sentence and cheers and yelps of excitement drowned the sounds of my voice. I held up a hand to signal silence, then slowly opened each box. “In these boxes are books, books that you may each pick, to have, and to keep.” Bodies leapt from chairs, moving up and down is jumps of pure delight. Mouths released cheers at earsplitting volumes. The excitement I had been containing spread across my face in an ear-to-ear grin.
It is moments like this where the power of education is revealed. That excitement, that joy, is the purest example of a love of learning that one can witness. When given these special opportunities, in this case, boxes of books to keep, I see children who are devoted, and empowered, by reading and learning. There are many cards against my students’ futures. Statistics say these students will probably not finish high school, never enter college. But my mind and heart cannot help but feel differently. And it is the seemingly little things, such as new books for a bedside, that make their future a little bit brighter and their love of learning even deeper. Those books are hard-cover symbols of the hope for a bright future.
Thank you!
Allison
From Joanna Calandriello of Kershaw Magnet School
Attached are two short blogs and a picture of my class reading. Again Thank you for all of the books , the students love them.
Joanna Calandriello
What I like about the books that my class received was that they had good and old movies in them. The other reason why I want to thank you is because the Oprah Winfrey book is telling you about her life time and how she runs her show I can quote that they said in the story what is Oprah’s secret to success? She is possibly the most trusted women in The United States.
Sincerely,
Kershaw Student
Dear to whom it may concern,
I really like the books my class received. My favorite one was Horror in Movies. I really liked it. So thank you so much.
Sincerely
Student from Kershaw Magnet School
Note from Emily Simon
As a new member of the Rock for Reading Board of Directors, I was pleased to be invited to witness the reading awards at George Manierre Elementary School. Paul Natkin and I attended the event that is the culmination of the academic-year long partnership between the school and one of our grantees, Sit Stay Read!.
The school’s Principal, Shirley Roach, and the founder and Executive Director of Sit Stay Read!, MaryEllen Schneider, were on site to present the awards as well as offer the opportunity for the students to say goodbye to the dogs.
Rock for Reading also provided a book donation and each student received one book to take home and were able to select another book to pass on to a friend and give the gift of reading.
The school is part of Chicago Public Schools and is located in the Old Town neighborhood across the street from the Marshall Field Garden Apartments which is a subsidized housing project. The opportunity for the students to have individual attention focused on both reading and interacting with a dog and its owner is truly special and the excitement and pride of the students, dogs and owners was palpable!
Sit Stay Read! is the leading literacy organization in the United States to use dogs as a tool to improve reading skills and foster the love of learning in children living in poverty. Through a curriculum designed with the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Center for Literacy, Sit Stay Read’s trained volunteers and certified dog teams improve reading fluency, make reading fun, and inspire children to become lifelong readers.
The event was very inspirational and I was able to see the students transformation from exciteable and demonstrative while accepting their awards to becoming kind and respectful when it was their turn to sit with the dogs, read to them and say goodbye!
The correlation between reading and interacting with a dog clearly expanded the students’ experiences and worldviews and I am so proud to be part of Rock for Reading and to make it possible. On a seemingly normal Monday in Spring, I also had my worldview and experiences broadended.
Rock and Read on!
A note from Owen Duncan
The magic of giving books to children lies first in watching their eyes, then in hearing their voices. As the students from the Sue Duncan Children’s Center filed out into the hall where I had, courtesy of Rock for Reading, displayed 40 boxes of books for them to take home, eyes widened in the same way you see youngsters’ eyes widen when they walk in a toy store. Conversation dropped, eyes ranged up and down the row of boxes, and then one older child put it together and asked softly, “Are those for us?”
“Yes, they’re for you to take home. You may take one of each.”
For a moment no one said anything and then a girl asked in a quiet, it’s-too-good-to-be-true sort of voice, “You mean we can each take one, right?”
“No,” I said, “you may take one of each. If you can carry that many.”
Their eyes flickered from the books to my face and back. Several voices, rising with excitement, said, “Really?” Others had already believed my smile and were moving in, babbling happily. “Look, Malcolm X!” “Look, one about Aztecs!” The volume soared. “Ooh, this one’s in Spanish!” “How will we carry them all?”
Recycled plastic shopping bags were produced, an orderly system of distribution arranged, no effort was made to lower the volume. Older kids helped younger ones fill their bags and carry them. Overloaded bags split and were replaced. Children requested exceptions to the one-each rule. “My cousin really likes cars, can I take an extra book for him?” “My dad saw a program on India on TV last week, can I…” (Dad lives in a separate home) “My little brother…” The answer was always yes.
The volume had dipped once most bags were filled but then the children began to be picked up and it rose again. “Mom, look!” “Dad, can you carry these?” “Look, Gramma, these books are mine!”
Magic.
Owen Duncan Sue Duncan Children’s Center
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