The Huber Heights City Schools continues to seek to foster the improvement of reading for elementary students with the second of four literacy activities to help children develop a lifetime love of reading.
The HHCS Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction will present its second reading initiative "How to Help Your Child Become a Better Reader" from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18 at the Huber Heights Athletic Foundation Center, located at 5367 Fishburg Rd.
Library Media Specialists Carol Mitchell and Sherry Parsons will be featured. Mitchell, the head librarian at the Cedarville Community Library, will make a presentation for parents of students in kindergarten to second grade while Sherry Parsons, head of children's services at the Beavercreek Library, will work with the parents of students in third to fifth grade. Parsons has held the office of coordinator for children's services for the Ohio Library Council and has been a workshop presenter for teachers in the Huber Heights City Schools.
"They will talk to parents and provide them with reading tips," said Instruction and Curriculum Supervisor Dorothy Johnson.
While parents attend the group sessions, there will simultaneously be literacy activities for the children. The children will receive the book "The Very Busy Spider." The presenters will highlight the book with them by powerpoint and the children will create spiders and related crafts to "become involved with the story," according to Johnson.
As an incentive for the children, they will be able to meet McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog and Andy the Armodillo, of Texas Roadhouse. Draw stringbags and coloring books have been provided by The Montgomery County Waste Management. Organizers hope to distribute over 100 of these bags for children with various literacy materials included.
To conclude the event, Papa John's Pizza will provide pizza and drinks.
The first initiative was held Jan. 19 with illustrators Christopher and Jeanette Canyon. There were 560 people in attendance, including 150 families and 193 children that attended that event. Titus Elementary was awarded an original piece of Christopher Canyon art, an illustration that he had done for one of his books, since they had the highest percentage of their school in attendance, at 17.4 percent.
Johnson was asked what suprises they found in the parent feedback evalutation form from the first session.
"I would say the biggest suprise is the enthusiasm and positive response," she said. "The other suprise was the numbers of people who came."
"The Huber Heights Community Reading and Growing Together" will feature the following programming specifically for parents at the Huber Heights Athletic Foundation:
-Tuesday, March 16, 6:30 to 8 p.m.:, Judy Brunner, an author and nationally recognized literacy expert, will be the keynote speaker. Johnson said Brunner will have a new book out and will address the issue of why children can't read. There will also be an appearance by the Dayton Dragon's mascot, Heater.
-Tuesday, May 11, 6:30 to 8 p.m.: Activity fair booths from school personnel as well as community agencies, will promote reading with an emphasis on summer reading. Parents will also receive creative and practical applications to help reinforce their children's reading skills during the normal activities of the summer, according to Kathy Demers, Assistant Supt. of Curriculum and Instruction. "Parents want to help their children at home, but struggle with the 'how to' or application. We hope by providing activity booths and speakers that model best reading practices, parents will feel empowered to reinforce the love of reading at home," said Demers.
Funding for the literacy initiative comes from Huber Heights City Schools, a $5000 grant from the Huber Heights Athletic Foundation and donations from local partners and businesses.
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