Reading Buddies and Book Baskets

Throughout the school year, 6th grade students in an after school Student Leadership class worked to promote literacy in the school and community. The students identified three areas that needed attention: early childhood, primary and intermediate. They created baskets that were delivered to homes in the community to get children under the age of five reading. The baskets contained a letter informing parents about the benefits of early literacy, books, phonics flashcards, a CD from the school kindergarten program and a survey about reading. The students also mentored first-grade students in reading, math and citizenship. They met with their reading buddies twice a week for 30 minutes per session. Finally, they raised money to buy high interest books for the library. To build interest the students conducted book talks in the intermediate classrooms. The students worked toward standards by: analyzing the data from the surveys, making budgets for the baskets, writing reflections in their journals and researching information needed to complete the project.