BY Rebecca Bunce
Stony Brook Elementary School (Brewster)
Project Description
The goal of this proposed project is to have families come together around notable fiction and informational texts by engaging in shared reading and the completion of included fun/educational activities in our “Family Literacy Bags.” Texts are selected and paired around themes such as: Animals, Gardening, Farms, Environment, Cooking, Food, Weather, Robots, Archaeology, Birds, Building, Time, Sleep, Music, Folktales, etc. Both books and the extension activity cards are bundled in a take-home literacy bag for students to enjoy with their families. Extension activities include: a Creativity Activity: a hands-on craft project; an Imagination Activity: encourages imaginative play, writing, or drawing; a “Get Real” Activity: focuses on real-world experiences for parent and child; and connected math/science activities where appropriate. This grant would make it possible for 22 Family Literacy bags to be assembled by providing for the purchase of durable canvas tote bags and all of the 45+ titles needed to connect to the afore mentioned themes. There will be developmentally appropriate theme bags for each of the three grade levels in the building, K, 1st, and 2nd. Families will benefit from being able to borrow (by rotation) all of the theme bags at their child’s grade-level throughout the year.
How will the project be evaluated (e.g. how will you gauge its success)?
Parent, student, and teacher surveys.
Benefit to the students and the school
By encouraging family time to be spent around engaging literature and connected extension activities, we seek to support our parents in modeling for their children the importance and joy of literacy experiences. Research proves that healthy home/school connections positively help to support students’ academic growth and overall enjoyment.
Timeline of Project (when will you do the project, if applicable)
This project will be able to commence after funds disbursement (Roughly December 2018) and run the duration of the 2018- 2019 school year and beyond.