Meeting the Needs of Children
Communities in Schools is a wonderful resource for providing opportunities and programs some children might not otherwise experience. A partnership, this far reaching program serves students throughout the nation in approximately 27 states. Assisting students in becoming the best they can be, that sometimes means providing food for a long weekend, a ride to the doctor or even a much anticipated ball practice.
Other times that means jump starting an interest in reading through an onsite book club. These book clubs are a wonderful way for children to connect not only with each other, but books they read, even at times having opportunities to meet a real author. When given a chance to meet an author children often get a sense they can become one, too.
I had the opportunity, recently, to participate in a second-grade book club at Elizabeth Koontz Elementary School in Salisbury, NC. Beth Foreman, the Communities in Schools Site Coordinator, invited me to share my books, asking that I read, Tired of Being Different. Told through the viewpoint of a puppy, the message in the story teaches children it’s okay to be different. After the presentation, we took a group photo, as you can see above. The children thought hiding behind their books was cool.
A few weeks later, Beth sent the following report to the local newspaper, the Salisbury Post … Monday, March 10, 2014, 106 second grade students at Elizabeth Koontz Elementary were treated to a special book club guest, Dicy McCullough. Dicy is a local author of children’s books, who spoke to our students about the importance of reading and writing, sharing how she finds topics to incorporate in her books. She models book characters after real life people and animals, even using artwork and ideas suggested by students! Dicy read her book, “Tired of Being Different.” All students received a copy for their personal home libraries. Teachers received a classroom copy of the free book. Books were purchased using grant money from Target Early Learning LIteracy Foundation. (If interested in writing a grant for this year, the Target Foundation is taking applications until April 30th.)
The first and second grade book clubs at Elizabeth Koontz Elementary School are sponsored by Communities in Schools of Rowan County and Target Foundation Early Literacy Grants. Community in Schools is a Rowan County United Way Agency. To learn more about Communities in Schools click here. To learn more about Rowan County’s program, click here.
Congratulations, Beth Foreman and the Communities in Schools program at Elizabeth Koontz Elementary School. For inspiring a love of reading at such a young age, perhaps preventing future dropouts, you are my favorite organization of the week.
Do you know an organization in your community who is going above and beyond in meeting the needs of children? If so, leave a comment, message on Facebook or email dicysm@yahoo.com.
www.dicymcculloughbooks.com/blog
