Dawn Powell, the Westwind Elementary principal and first-grade teacher, Ciara Rasberry, came together to host a Literacy Day for families to learn about reading practices to utilize during the Thanksgiving break. Powell and Rasberry worked with Angela Howard, the media specialist at Westwind, to tailor the lesson to the specific needs of the students.
On the Friday before break, several Westwind families came to the school to learn tips and tricks about reading with their kids at home. Every grade level participated in Literacy Day, as the entire school was reading at the same time. One specific part of the morning that was powerful for the families in attendance was when Howard and a group of first graders modeled on the stage what a read-aloud should look and sound like, as an interactive experience for both the reader and the students involved.
Rasbery stated that reading aloud at home is beneficial to the academic development of the students. Additionally, increased reading in students helps improve their emotional development, language skills, and concentration as well as encourages creativity and imagination.
“I think this event is so important to help demonstrate what an effective read-aloud looks like and the benefits to go along with doing this regularly at home,” said Rasberry.
Rasberry invited the Frenship Central Office to Westwind to take part in the school-wide activity. They wanted to give the central office staff an opportunity to interact with the staff, parents, and students at a campus level.
One central office volunteer was Kimberley Woolbright, the RLA Coordinator for the district. She and the other volunteers read to students and were able to connect with students in a way that is unique to reading.
Woolbright stated that one of the most enjoyable parts of the event was listening to students answering questions with excitement as they progressed through the book. The students followed the characters' journey with interest and made their teacher proud by identifying multiple story elements.
“As we read together, the students seemed to be filled with joy and excitement,” said Woolbright. “It was so fun to see how quickly they welcomed me as a new friend in the classroom.”
Woolbright stated that she decided to volunteer at Literacy Day because of her love of reading and the lessons her father taught her about the importance of serving others. “He would take me along with him to serve others,” said Woolbright. “Those encounters taught me about the power of actions in service to others. Volunteering is a powerful tool that brings people together.”