Latest News & Updates:

>>

1 comments Most Recent Post: 06/04 06:06PM by Anonymous

Back to School Volunteer Guidelines Wednesday, August 10 2011 @ 04:36 PM EDT

Thank you for participating in BookPALS & PencilPALS for the 2011-12 School Year!

It's that time again! As we begin our literacy adventures for another exciting school year, here are a few important reminders:

1. Please complete a district volunteer application through your county school system. Below is a list of websites and phone numbers for various counties. Please find your county and complete the necessary form before you begin volunteering. This is mandatory for all counties and all volunteers not only for liability reasons, but also to ensure that your school gets proper credit for your volunteer hours, which may qualify them for awards, grants and other benefits. Thank you in advance for taking the time to do this!

2. If you are a PencilPAL, you will be receiving an assignment in September. If you are new to BookPALS and need placement at a school, please contact Natalie. I�m happy to help you make the appropriate connections. If you are a returning BookPAL, please contact your teachers from last year to determine a weekly reading schedule that�s convenient for you and the teachers. Many teachers like to take the first few weeks of school to acclimate students to the new year. Please wait until after Labor Day to contact them for this reason. It can be difficult to reach teachers sometimes. If you have problems or questions, don�t hesitate to call Natalie.

3. Once you have established a reading schedule and begin volunteering, please contact Natalie with the names and grade levels of each of the teachers you read for, as well as the name of school(s)--especially if you read at more than one school, as some of you so generously you do! This is important information that allows me to track the number of students we reach. Don�t forget to ask for a school calendar so you are aware of the dates school may be closed for holidays, testing or field trips. Most calendars are available online via school district websites. If you need help, I�m happy to obtain a calendar for you.

4. Melissa Brandt, our National Book Reviewer, makes her book reviews easily accessible via our online BOOKFINDER. Bibliographies and other book recommendations are readily available. You should also feel free to speak with your teachers and the school�s Media Specialist about book recommendations and borrowing books from the school�s library. In addition, please visit the children�s librarians at your local public library. They are a wonderful resource for BookPALS and PencilPALS.

5. Keeping talking to your teachers (and me!) as the weeks unfold. Share ideas about what seems to be working and how these programs can be shaped for your classes. Thank you for participating in these worthwhile programs! It's going to be a great school year!

Links to Volunteer Applications by County

Broward County: Please complete the application available at: http://www.getinvolvedineducation.com/volunteers/application.htm Hardcopy application is also available�ask Natalie for a copy or call 754-321-2040 for more info.

Duval County: Please complete and submit the following volunteer application: http://www.duvalschools.org/static/offcampus/downloads/08%20District%20-%20School%20Volunteer%20App.pdf or call 904-390-2960 for more information.

Hillsborough County: Please complete and submit the following SERVE volunteer application: http://serve.mysdhc.org/forms or call 813-872-5254 for more info.

Lake County: Complete and submit the following volunteer application to your school: http://lake.k12.fl.us/16511031093556320/lib/16511031093556320/VOLUNTEER_APP.xls

Miami-Dade: Please complete and submit the following volunteer application to your school: http://community.dadeschools.net/!svp/1764.pdf or call 305-995-1445 for more info.

Orange County: Please complete an ADDitions Volunteer Application at: https://volunteer.ocps.net/HowtoADDitions.asp or call 407-317-3323 for more info.

Osceola County: Please complete an OASIS volunteer application at your school or call 407-870-4955 for more info.

Palm Beach County: Applications must be completed on site at your school of choice. Visit http://www.palmbeachschools.org/pao/Volunteers/index.asp for more information

Pinellas County: should call or e-mail Family & Community Relations at: 727-588-6405 or volunteer@pcsb.org You may also visit: http://www.pinellas.k12.fl.us/volunteers/interested.html for a list of volunteer opportunities at various schools.

Seminole County: Please complete the Dividends volunteer application at: https://www3.scps.k12.fl.us/secure/CommInv_Vol/Vols2003/vollogin.cfm or call 407-320-0182 for more info.

>>

1 comments Most Recent Post: 06/04 09:24AM by Anonymous

Rave Reviews From Teachers Tuesday, June 21 2011 @ 08:51 PM EDT

From the Teachers:

The most enjoyable part of BookPALS was the excitement in my children's eyes when Mr. Mitchell walked into our classroom every Friday morning. They enjoyed listening to every word he had to say. His enthusiasm as he read captured my students' attention and created such an imagination for them. As Mr. Mitchell read, he would take a step back and ask comprehension questions. He involved the children, using repetition and poetry. We love Mr. Mitchell here at Essrig Elementary! ~Miss Maria Romano, Essrig Elementary, Tampa (BookPAL LeRoy Mitchell)

What didn't we enjoy about Mr. Cordell?? He always chooses entertaining and thought provoking books to share. His acting style and creative use of voices and actions always captivated us all. The children were always eager to search for additional books about the same topic or by the same author. They would even reference books which Mr. Cordell read in class discussion after he'd left. Mr. Cordell was also involved in our Junior BookPALS program where he helped 5th graders learn to read as Junior BookPALS. We still have our 5th grade Junior BookPALS come to our class to read weekly. This has given me a chance to develop a relationship with these children and act as an unoffical mentor, helping them with classwork and personal decisions. The 5th graders have become amazing role models for my students, I would love to see this program again next year. ~Ms. Janna Johnston, Rolling Hills Elementary, Orlando (BookPAL Bill Cordell)

My students LOVED being read to by Mr. Ray! He always chose high interest books that enhanced student vocabulary and integrated nicely with our 3rd grade benchmarks. My students eagerly awaited Mr. Ray's visits each week. They were always actively engaged and full of questions and responses. Thank you, Mr. Ray, for going the extra mile to get to know our students! They admire you, and you have definitely had a positive impact on their learning experience. We look forward to having Mr. Ray back in our classrooms in August!~Ms. Kelsey, Eastbrook Elementary, Winter Park (BookPAL Stephen Laurantz, aka "Mr. Ray")

Motivation is a key factor in increasing the performance of many of our struggling students. The PencilPALS program added an extra "umph" and motivated our kiddos to write. I enjoyed the interactions with the students and the integration of literacy. ~Megan Allen, Cleveland Elementary School, Tampa

>>

15 comments Most Recent Post: 03/14 04:09PM by Anonymous

Feedback From BookPALS and PencilPALS Tuesday, June 21 2011 @ 12:02 PM EDT

I read stories, tell jokes, play guitar and sing with the children. It�s always a good feeling. I had a health scare, and the children and I saw the funny side of it, which helped me greatly. Reading books with incredible illustrations and stories exposes children to two art forms. When you read with drama, that adds a third art form. When I play guitar and sing, there�s two more. That�s five art forms in an art starved education system. It�s got to help! BookPAL Jeff Mason, Apopka

They cheer when I walk into the classroom every week because they know for the next 30 minutes, they will be taken on a ride by the storytelling, and that is an invitation for their imagination and playfulness to be present. The stories always have a positive message thread, messages that are relatable to the grade I read to, and so we talk about them, and I ask for their opinions about what the characters should or should not do. It�s a very interactive process, yet there are no pictures�just me reading them a story, which taps into their playfulness, their intuition, and often their need to see and hear right from wrong. It�s just darn fun! I have a ball every week, and have for 9 years now. ~BookPAL Wendy Michaels, Miami

Participating in BookPALS has become a central part of my life. This is such vital work. Each year, I see the light bulbs turn on as student after student lets me know what books they are reading and recounts story after story that I have previously shared with them. I enjoy BookPALS, Junior BookPALS, and PencilPALS very much, and I see so much value in all of these programs. I wish I could afford to travel to more schools throughout the year. ~BookPAL Bill Cordell, Ocoee

One reading led to another until I found myself reading to every class at Red Bug Lake Elementary, from Kindergarten to 5th grade! Teaching has been my love almost as long as being an actress. I use each reading as a learning tool and ask lots of comprehension questions. I look at every experience as a learning opportunity and try to communicate that to the children through the books I choose. ~BookPAL Shari Douglas, Winter Springs

It is extremely rewarding to read letters from student PencilPALS. Just taking a few minutes out of my life to read a short book and write about it means so much to these children. I find myself waiting with great anticipation for their response letters to find out if they, too, enjoyed the books we�ve chosen to read. I find myself talking to friends and co-workers about this experience. I recently watched the video of the PencilPALS teacher in Arizona. If anyone ever needs testimony to prove the value of this program, that video is it! ~PencilPAL Marlene Young, Orlando

At the beginning of the school year, each student promises to read at least one book per week as my BookPAL. I love their excitement when they proudly show, without my prompting, what they are reading. Then there is the kindergartner who proudly declares that he/she is a reader who not only looks at the pictures, but also reads along with me. ~BookPAL LeRoy Mitchell, Tampa

PencilPALS is a wonderful program. I thoroughly enjoy reading and writing to students. Each has his/her own unique way of expressing their interests. Being a PencilPAL requires reading books that I typically would not read and writing in a way I do not write at work, so it keeps me young and on my toes! Everyone needs an outside resource with whom to share thoughts, feelings, experiences, etc. BookPALS and PencilPALS are great resources for elementary students. I have written to three students in two years. The skill level of each student was different, but I saw a noticeable improvement in their writing from the beginning to the end of the school year. I believe the children know that someone cares about them and believes in them because of these programs. ~PencilPAL Lisa Derryberry, Jacksonville

>>

0 comments Post a comment

Melissa's Bookmobile Tuesday, June 21 2011 @ 12:01 PM EDT

Compiled by Melissa Brandt, National BookPALS Book Reviewer

Judge Judy Sheindlin's You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover: Cool Rules For School
Illustrated by BobTore

You should:
A. Steal it and then tell the teacher the bully has it.
B. Do what he says so you won�ft get hurt.
C. Tell the teacher and your parents about the threat.
D. Give him something that you own so that you don�ft have to steal anything.

Step up and face the music: Your report card is really bad. The last thing you need now is to have to show it to your father.
You should:
Show it to him and promise to try harder.
Show it to your father when he�fs half-asleep; maybe he won�ft read it too carefully.
Sign his name to the report card and hope the teacher accepts it.
Add a plus sign to every grade.
*The author does not provide the answers.
Ages: 7-12

Funny Business Conversations with Writers of Comedy
Compiled and edited by Leonard S. Marcus

The reader will be entertained by the wisdom imparted by many popular Children�fs Book authors�c Former teacher, Sharon Creech, was inspired to become a writer after the death of her father.
*Relevant bibliographies included.
*Obviously, humor is mentioned, however this book celebrates writing.
*Adults

>>

0 comments Post a comment

BookPAL Angela Bomford receives Thank You letter from Principal Tuesday, June 14 2011 @ 02:18 PM EDT

>>

1 comments Most Recent Post: 10/08 09:57AM by Anonymous

Letter from student to BookPAL Pete Abdalla Tuesday, June 14 2011 @ 02:15 PM EDT

>>

1 comments Most Recent Post: 10/08 06:01AM by Anonymous

BookPAL Shari Douglas Tuesday, May 17 2011 @ 08:56 PM EDT

BookPAL Shari Douglas reads for the children at Red Bug Elementary

>>

0 comments Post a comment