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I admit it. I am a glutton for punishment. Every year for the last three years I have spent March and April swearing this was the last time I would coordinate our school's VIP Reading Day, and immediately after it happens, I start thinking about the next year's.
On VIP Reading Day, people from outside the school -- the mayor, the city council, schoolboard members, other principals, parents, etc. -- come into the classroom, talk to the class about what they do and how important reading is to them, and read a book to the class (or, in the case of older grades, the first chapter of a book). I plan the whole thing: recruit the readers, coordinate the schedule, print flyers to teachers asking what their time and book preferences are, arrange for the refreshments for the Reader's Reception, buy the books (the best part--I get to read all the cool new children's books) and make sure everyone is where they need to go. I fill in if readers bail at the last minute, and arrange for different books if for some reason the one I chose is unacceptable.
It has its amusing moments: the funniest being the pregnant Rapunzel. Two years ago, I selected for a second grade class a Caldecott award winning version of "Rapunzel." It was a gorgeous book: the illustrations looked like Renaissance paintings. I read only the first couple of pages... I mean we all know the story of Rapunzel, right?
Or, at least I thought I did. The night before VIP Reading Day, my friend J., who was reading to the class called me and said "Um, Pat, you do know Rapunzel gets pregnant in this version, right?" "What?!?" "Yes, it says that Rapunzel's clothes start not fitting because her belly is getting larger and that's how the witch knows a man has been in the tower." I told her to finesse the issue (J.'s talented, she could handle it) and resolved that in the future I would look more carefully before buying picture books. : > (But hell, it had won a Caldecott! What were those people thinking?)
So, at any rate, on Monday I went in to the school and arranged yet again to coordinate VIP Reading Day. The hope is that students get a feel for how much reading matters: not just at school but in life. This year is going to be much more difficult as there is no budget. I'm hoping to get donations from businesses and individuals, but we shall see.
And this is just part of my school volunteering. Over the past two years I have printed and collated literally thousands of newsletters. This year I spend an hour Tuesday mornings in D's class, helping two other little boys with their reading. (This morning I went in for a special time to help one of my reading group with his phonics.) On Thursdays, I go to K's class and help twelve special ed (kindergarten and first grade) students who are starting to learn to read. Lately, I've also started doing yard duty at D's school for all of Tuesday's lunch and part of Wednesday's. (That presents its own challenges: my very first yard duty stint, three first graders tried to leave campus when my back was turned.)
I would like to encourage any of you who have the opportunity to volunteer at your local schools to do so. They need it, almost undoubtedly. There are a lot of rewards: I get to see kids grow and change and feel like I am making a little bit of an impact for good in the world. K's teacher told me that every child needs at least three adults in his life besides his parents for emotional well-being.
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brian1789 also volunteers, not just in our sons' schools, but occasionally in a friend's sixth-grade classroom. He talks about geology and space topics, and has developed a killer demonstration of planetary evolution using the materials for Rice Krispy treats!
On VIP Reading Day, people from outside the school -- the mayor, the city council, schoolboard members, other principals, parents, etc. -- come into the classroom, talk to the class about what they do and how important reading is to them, and read a book to the class (or, in the case of older grades, the first chapter of a book). I plan the whole thing: recruit the readers, coordinate the schedule, print flyers to teachers asking what their time and book preferences are, arrange for the refreshments for the Reader's Reception, buy the books (the best part--I get to read all the cool new children's books) and make sure everyone is where they need to go. I fill in if readers bail at the last minute, and arrange for different books if for some reason the one I chose is unacceptable.
It has its amusing moments: the funniest being the pregnant Rapunzel. Two years ago, I selected for a second grade class a Caldecott award winning version of "Rapunzel." It was a gorgeous book: the illustrations looked like Renaissance paintings. I read only the first couple of pages... I mean we all know the story of Rapunzel, right?
Or, at least I thought I did. The night before VIP Reading Day, my friend J., who was reading to the class called me and said "Um, Pat, you do know Rapunzel gets pregnant in this version, right?" "What?!?" "Yes, it says that Rapunzel's clothes start not fitting because her belly is getting larger and that's how the witch knows a man has been in the tower." I told her to finesse the issue (J.'s talented, she could handle it) and resolved that in the future I would look more carefully before buying picture books. : > (But hell, it had won a Caldecott! What were those people thinking?)
So, at any rate, on Monday I went in to the school and arranged yet again to coordinate VIP Reading Day. The hope is that students get a feel for how much reading matters: not just at school but in life. This year is going to be much more difficult as there is no budget. I'm hoping to get donations from businesses and individuals, but we shall see.
And this is just part of my school volunteering. Over the past two years I have printed and collated literally thousands of newsletters. This year I spend an hour Tuesday mornings in D's class, helping two other little boys with their reading. (This morning I went in for a special time to help one of my reading group with his phonics.) On Thursdays, I go to K's class and help twelve special ed (kindergarten and first grade) students who are starting to learn to read. Lately, I've also started doing yard duty at D's school for all of Tuesday's lunch and part of Wednesday's. (That presents its own challenges: my very first yard duty stint, three first graders tried to leave campus when my back was turned.)
I would like to encourage any of you who have the opportunity to volunteer at your local schools to do so. They need it, almost undoubtedly. There are a lot of rewards: I get to see kids grow and change and feel like I am making a little bit of an impact for good in the world. K's teacher told me that every child needs at least three adults in his life besides his parents for emotional well-being.
brian1789 also volunteers, not just in our sons' schools, but occasionally in a friend's sixth-grade classroom. He talks about geology and space topics, and has developed a killer demonstration of planetary evolution using the materials for Rice Krispy treats!
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Let me know what you need, and I'll happily chip in.