Why I Volunteer

The Reading to Kids program is the perfect opportunity for people to share their love of stories, reading and imagination with a group of elementary school kids who are eager to learn and engage.

Personally I’ve always been fond of reading – in fact, it has been a consistent source of joy in my life. I can only think of one time in my childhood when my affinity to reading backfired on me. I was six or seven years old and my mom gave me the option of spending precious minutes before bedtime watching T.V. or reading a book she had chosen. I opted to read the book with her, which resulted in my first lesson on “coming of age” and the birds and the bees. Educational? Yes. Traumatic? You bet. I regretted missing that hour of Nickelodeon, but I digress. Even so, I’ve remained an avid reader (of all subjects) ever since. So naturally, when I discovered Reading to Kids while browsing Yelp for volunteer opportunities with children, it sounded like the perfect fit.

During my first experience with the program, I found myself in a classroom of fourth graders reading a book about the solar system and a little girl’s trip to outer space. I was slightly nervous about keeping the kids engaged in a chapter book, but found that you can never underestimate the power of silly voices and enthusiasm when reading aloud. My reading partner and I paused during parts of the book to ask the kids questions and I was surprised by their knowledge of the solar system and space exploration.

The reading portion of the morning was followed by craft time, which made for very interesting conversation. As the kids drew planets of every color in the rainbow and astronaut versions of their pets, I learned coincidentally every kid in the room has experienced an alien encounter. What are the odds? I loved listening to their stories and letting their imaginations run wild. Reading to Kids gives you the opportunity to revisit books you yourself loved as a child and experience them once again through the creative minds of these excited little kids. After one session, I was hooked and I knew this was something I would look forward to every month.

So if the allure of nostalgic books from your childhood, imaginative conversation and the chance to educate kids in a fun way isn’t enough to persuade you to volunteer, here are a few more reasons why you should check out the program:

THE KIDS – They come every month because they want to be there. They’re excited to have a new person spend time with them and want nothing more than to learn and have a good time

THE SKILLS – Your participation increases the kids’ vocabulary, builds their self-confidence and encourages their English speaking abilities

THE INSPIRATION – This program motivates kids to read on their own and encourages a lifelong path of enthusiasm for reading and learning

What inspired you to read as a kid?

Craft Idea for The Magic Brush

This weekend's 2nd grade book is The Magic Brush: A Story of Family, Love, and Chinese Characters. Just like Jasmine's Agong (Grandfather) taught her, you can teach your class how to write Chinese characters! It's really simple, Chinese characters are all about writing with the correct stroke order. Let's take a few of the characters from the book...

Steps to "Friend":

1. Starting from the top, make a curved line downwards.

2. Without lifting your pen/pencil, starting from the top of Step 1, draw a horizontal line from the left to the right and then downwards. Be sure to make a hook at the end!

3. From left to right, draw a line connecting the 2 sides.

4. Draw a second line underneath the first.

5. Repeat the Steps 1-4 to the right and together you have "Friend"!

**Don't forget! With just one side, you have the Chinese character for "moon".

Steps to "Star"

1. First make the box-like character on the upper part of the entire

character. Start with simply making a short line starting from the top.

2. Just like Step 2 of "friend", without lifting your pen/pencil, draw a horizontal line from the left to the right and then downwards. No hook this time!

3. Finish off the box by making a horizontal line (from left to right) in the middle of the box and then closing it (left to right again) at the bottom.

4. To begin the lower part of the character, make a short curved line to the right of the box, starting from the top again, and then draw a horizontal line from it.

5. Draw a shorter line under the first line, make sure it is in the center of the first line.

6. Finish it off by drawing a vertical line from the box through the lines and then closing it off with one more horizontal line

Now you have "star"!

Animal Puppets From Around the World

This month's theme is "Literature From Around the World," and many of the books this month feature animals from exotic places. Puppets can make the books come alive for the students by allowing them to act the part of their favorite character, or opening a dialogue about the unique animals that live in other climates. Possible ideas for puppets include lions, goats, elephants, rhinos, Egyptian pharaohs, or even dragons! Supplies: - Construction paper - Wooden sticks - Glue - Yarn (provided at this month's club) - Markers or crayons - Scissors

A Rocket Out of Recyclables!

April's Reading Club, "From the Earth to the Moon", is fast approaching! What could be better than making a rocket craft out of a recycled paper towel tube to celebrate this month!

Supplies:

• A paper towel tube
• Construction paper
• Pencils, markers or crayons
• Tape or Glue
• Ruler
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Wrap construction paper around the tube. Tape or glue the construction paper in place. Feel free to use 2 pieces of construction paper if 1 isn't big enough to do the trick!

2. Cut 4 slits on one end of the tube. Each slit should be about 2 1/2 inches long, and each pair should be located opposite another, dividing the tube into 4 equal sections.

3. Using construction paper, cut out 2 triangles that are about 5 inches long and 4 inches tall.

4. Cut a slit in each of the 2 triangles. Each slit should go halfway through the triangle, one goes through the top of a triangle, the other goes through the bottom of the triangle.5. Using the triangle with the slit in the bottom, slip the triangle onto the rocket's body in 2 of the slits.

6. Using the triangle with the slit in the top, slip the triangle onto the rocket's body (in the other 2 slits). In addition to going onto the rocket, this triangle should also slip into the other triangle. You may have to jiggle the paper a bit to line the slits up. This forms a steady base for your rocket.

7. Using construction paper, cut a circle about 4 inches in diameter. Cut a slit from the outer edge to the center.

8. Turn the circle into a cone and secure it with glue or tape.9. Tape the cone to the top of the rocket and decorate it with stickers, markers, or crayons.

You now have a great rocket ship to play with!

Jellybeans - Discussion Questions

KINDERGARTEN READERS! Worried about keeping the discussion alive with your kids this Saturday? Here are some ideas for Discussion Questions:

-What is your favorite candy that you like to share with your friends?

-What would [Nicole, Bitsy, Anna] rather do?

-Which character are you most like?

-What cheers you up when you feel disappointed?

Use the online book guide for more tips on discussion, vocabulary, and craft ideas!

Be The Best GLC You Can Be!

GLCs, Grade Level Coordinators, play an important role in ensuring that the Reading Clubs run smoothly. GLCs are the direct contact and organizer for the volunteers in each grade level.

Here are a few tips from previous GLCs:

Familiarize: Use the online guide provided by R2K to familiarize yourself with the various responsibilities of GLCs. Provided in the yellow box are detailed guides for each grade level.

“[Be sure to read the] GLC training guide and highlight things you need to remember and be prepared to do on Saturday morning.”

-Grade 4 GLC from Los Angeles

Preparation: The night before, read the assigned book and think of craft ideas. You can even make a model craft! On the day of the Reading Clubs, make sure to arrive on time to take care of logistics and to gather all the supplies you will need for the day. This is especially important in getting craft boxes in order!

“The more prepared you are the better. Time flies when you get to the club so the more information you know beforehand, the more time you can spend helping new volunteers and getting the group on the same page.”

-Grade 5 GLC from Esperanza

Flexibility: Create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for your volunteers! Get the group going with discussing craft ideas and classroom management, it’s important to encourage interaction among the volunteers and be sure to welcome all ideas!

“Encourage interaction – everyone has good advice, experiences, thoughts, etc. to share. Try to think of some crafts for the book ahead of time – a quick Internet search usually provides a wealth of potential craft projects!”

-Grade 5 GLC from Esperanza

Pairings: To avoid confusion, wait as long as possible to rearrange groups in case there are late volunteers or students.

“Be patient and wait as long as possible before switching/replacing no-show volunteers – it lessens the confusion when/if late volunteers show up and having to reshuffle room assignments again.”

-Grade 4 GLC from Esperanza

"Movies and Books" Reading Club Crafts- Shrek

In this month's reading club the Third Graders will be reading the classic book that inspired the movie, Shrek.



"No doubt about it, Shrek is the ugliest guy in town. Everywhere he goes, people and animals flee. If his hideous appearance does not immediately fell them, the smoke belching from his ears and his "putrid blue flame" sends even the mighty--including "a whopper of a dragon"--packing. Yet Shrek is inordinately proud of his green knobby head and loathsome figure, and he roams the countryside having the kind of fun that only tormenting the vulnerable can provide. Hearing a witch prophesy that he will marry a princess who is even uglier than he is, Shrek is intrigued, and he sets out to find this repulsive bride. When they finally meet, the two break into heartfelt declarations of mutual admiration. ("Your horny warts, your rosy wens, / Like slimy bogs and fusty fens, / Thrill me.") Of course, they "got hitched as soon as possible." Steig's epigrammatic genius is given full rein in this engrossing and satisfying tale. The implicit promise (or threat) of a sequel--perhaps detailing the exploits of the pair's offspring--is indeed delicious to contemplate."

Inspired by Shrek himself, one of this month's craft idea the kids can create a movable Shrek.





To begin:

1. Draw and cut out Shrek's head, body, two legs, two arms.



2. Glue the head to the body.

3. Attach the arms and legs to Shrek's body using brads. (You will need a total of four brads)

"Movies and Books" Reading Club Crafts- There's a Nightmare in My Closet!

This month's reading club theme is "Movies and Books" and the Kindergarten will be reading "There's A Nightmare In My Closet".



Inspired by the book, the Kindergartners will be making their own monsters popping out from the door!



To begin:
1. Fold a piece of construction paper in half horizontally, like making a greeting card. Since you will be working with young children, you may have to pre-fold the paper. This will become the door.

2. Decorate/draw on the door. Encourage the kids to draw what their own door looks like at home.

3. On a separate sheet of construction paper draw and color your monster. Everyone's monster should be unique and original. (Kids draw the best "monsters!")

4. Cut out your monster.

5. Glue the monster on the inside of the door. (Optional: You can leave parts of your monster peeping out of the door.)

"Movies and Books" Reading Club Crafts-Madeline

In this month's reading club the First Graders will be reading the timeless classic Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans.




"Set in picturesque Paris, this tale of a brave little girl's trip to the hospital is as appealing today as it was in 1940. The combination of spirited heroine, timelessly appealing art, cheerful humor, and rhythmic text makes 'Madeline' a perennial favorite with children of all ages. "

One of this month's craft ideas inspired by this book is to create characters and architectural monuments from the book.





To begin:

1. Draw and color out the characters or significant buildings or monuments from the book. The children may claim to not know how to draw, but trust us, they do. Encourage them to be creative. Show them how to draw a stick figure, and add a hat, just like Madeline.

2. Cut out the drawings.

3. Attach Popsicle sticks to the back of each characters or building/structure.




4. Once they have their "scene characters" set, have the kids take turns acting out passages from the story.

A Note from our Ameri-Corp Member- Cynthia Orozco!

As the Literacy*AmeriCorps member for Reading to Kids, I have had the pleasure of working closely with two of our organization’s partner schools: Esperanza Elementary School during regular class hours and Leo Politi Elementary School for after-school homework help.

I have worked directly with students for the last eight months, and it has been incredible to see the many accomplishments of my students! I have students who are beginning to read when, at the beginning of the year, they were unable to recognize the letters of the alphabet. Many students have really improved on their English language skills and vocabulary. One of the best moments is when a child exhibits real enthusiasm for reading. Many of the students I work with really struggle with reading, and it isn’t particularly fun to read a book when you don’t understand the words in front of you. So when I see a student get excited about reading a new book or a student who begins to attend our reading clubs frequently, I can’t help but feel proud for that student and proud to serve the community.

I am constantly amazed and inspired by the students. I love to talk about current events and social problems with the older students. Most recently, the 5th graders at Politi and I had a great discussion about the recent earthquakes, comparing the big earthquakes in Haiti and Chile and contemplating the problems California would face in the event of an earthquake of a similar magnitude. The kids all have great ideas, experiences, and knowledge to share, and I encourage all of the volunteers at the reading clubs to keep the conversations flowing! It’s a great way for the kids to develop language and communication skills, and I guarantee they have a thing or two to teach you as well!

I look forward to seeing everyone at the June Reading Clubs! There is a really great selection of books for the month's "Super Heroes and Super People" theme that should make for some great discussion!

How the Moon Regained Her Shape Crafts!

At this month's "From the Earth to the Moon" Reading Clubs the second graders will be reading a Native American folktale called "How the Moon Regained Her Shape."

"Influenced by Native American folktales, this fascinating story deals with bullying, self-confidence, and understanding the phases of the moon. After the sun insults and bullies her, the moon gets very upset and disappears - much to the chagrin of rabbits who miss their moonlight romps. With the help of her friends, the moon gains more self-confidence each day until she is back to her full size." ("How the Moon Regained Her Shape." Sylvan Dell Publishing - Home. Web. 06 Apr. 2010. )

Inspired by this touching story, volunteer Susan Trabue created this wonderful craft designed to remind kids of their strengths, in the event that they ever faced bullying like the Moon did in our story.


1.Draw the line that will serve as the top of the wings that will stick out when the paper is rolled into a totem pole. Basically, we’re going to draw two identical right triangles. On a sheet of construction paper, about 1” below the top of the page, draw a 3” horizontal line on both sides of the page.

2. Lightly trace a 2 1/4” vertical line down from the interior end of each horizontal line you made in step 1. *Please note you will NOT be cutting along this line.

3. Draw lines completing both triangles. If you like, you can scallop or texture this edge to give it more of a feathered appearance.

4. Cut along the lines you made in steps 1 & 3.

5. Roll & tape/glue the paper together to form totem pole.

6. You can either draw your totem art directly on the construction paper, prior to rolling it into a tube, or you can do the art separately and glue/tape it to the totem.

I must confess, the cute baby animals are from “How to Draw 101 Animals,” that I found at Michael’s for $5. (http://www.topthatpublishing.com/uskids/detail.asp?id=796) It has easy step by step instructions that the kids can follow with your guidance.



You can see some great examples of totem poles and genuine Haida totem art at http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/exhibits/tbird-park/html/intro/intro.htm. Go to the present park layout and click on the totem icons to load detailed photos/explanations.

Animal Symbolism
(animals with asterisks are more commonly occurring on Native American totems)
Bear*: healing power, courage, great strength
Beaver*: determined, builder, protector
Boar/Pig: prosperity, spiritual strength, fearless
Buffalo: life/sacredness, great strength, gratitude
Butterfly: metamorphosis/transformation, balance, grace
Coyote: trickster, clever, stealthy
Eagle*: Spirit, healing, freedom
Frog*: cleansing, water, new life
Hawk: messenger, intuition, responsibility
Horse: power, wisdom, balance
Hummingbird: joy, love, beauty
Otter*: playful, friendly, joy
Owl*: clairvoyance, magic, wisdom
Raven*: magic, courage, awakening
Salmon*: pride, confidence, inspiration
Turtle*: protection, grounded, Mother Earth
Whale*: history, intuition, sound
Wolf*: teacher, family, new ideas

Thank you Susan for this wonderful idea! Have fun reading this weekend!

After the Reading Clubs- EL CHOLO!

Once the reading clubs wrap up and the kids go home, volunteers head to El Cholo! Join us next month and enjoy some yummy food and drinks!

Photos by Chris Martin

March is "Music and Celebrations" Month!

"Music and Celebration" month is one of our favorites around here at Reading to Kids! Not only do we get to share our love of reading, but we get to share our passion for music too! Each March we invite amazing friends and musicians to come and play music at the close of the reading clubs. With music ranging from classical, to bluegrass, to rock- the children, volunteers, and parents have a blast getting their groove on!

Another reason we love "Music and Celebration" month is because there are so many cheap and easy crafts to make with the kids during craft time. In an effort to inspire volunteers to make that craft time extra fun, we wanted to provide some ideas to get you started.

Here are just a few fun and easy crafts that you can do with your kids at the March 13th Reading Clubs.

Bottle Cap Tambourines:

This one will take a little bit of prep time before the reading club, but the kids will love you forever if you do it. Also, this craft can be simplified with more common everyday items like pipe cleaners, buttons and chop sticks.




Click Here for the full instructions from Family Fun Magazine.






Here is another fun project you can do with your groups, again with a little bit of prep before hand...CLICK HERE for complete instructions. This is called a Shekere(pronounced SHAY-ker-ray), an African instrument used for percussion.


There are so many wonderful projects online, and they all use common household items, many of which can be rescued out of your recycling bin! Here are just a few we found:

Shoe Box Guitars

Paper Plate Maracas

Rainsticks

Rattles (similar to the tambourine above)

Cardboard Tube Kazoo

African Drum

Baby Water Bottle Rattle

Have fun preparing these crafts for the March 13th Reading Club, and feel free to leave more project ideas in the comments below.

Reading to Kids- In the Classroom!

On Monday, February 8th Reading to Kids volunteer Jessica Romero volunteered to be a classroom helper and go to Mr. Salgado's classroom as a reward for being one of our highest recruiting teachers.

The experience proved to be rewarding for everyone involved and both Mr. Salgado and Jessica wrote Reading to Kids to let us know how much the day meant to them.

We were so moved by their e-mails we wanted to share them with everyone:

Good morning Ms. Zwass,

I just wanted to extend my gratitude for having sent Jessica to volunteer in my classroom on Monday, Feb. 8th. Her volunteering in my classroom made an extraordinary difference in my day as she helped relieve some of the work that would have taken hours if not days to do all by myself. With all the cutbacks in the school district, much of the work that was done by others is now having to be done by teachers on top of trying to teach.

My students and I were able to interact with her for a day and enjoyed her company. Having an additional hand in the classroom made a world of difference. Thank you and Jessica for all your help.

With gratitude,
Jose Salgado

4th grade teacher
Gratts Elementary School

Hi Rachel,

I just wanted to say thank you once again for giving me the opportunity to volunteer in a classroom. On Monday, February 8th I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Salgado's 4th class at Gratts Elementary. I have also worked with Ms. Vasquez's Kindergarten class and have also gone in as a reader during the Dr. Seuss Reading Celebration last year and it is always a very fulfilling experience. I am very glad to have found an organization like Reading to Kids which allows me to be active in a cause that is special to me. I personally benefited from an early introduction to reading and it is nice to be able to give back. Now more than ever, especially with the state budget cuts in our educational system, I am very happy to help with the little that I am able to do. It is also an inspiration to see teachers like Mr. Salgado and Ms. Vasquez still willing to make a difference despite the obstacles that they are facing. I would encourage anyone who has some free time to volunteer in a classroom, even a couple hours makes a big difference. It's a win-win situation, they get some much needed help and you go away feeling very good about having done something nice for someone else.

Thanks again Rachel and Reading to Kids for not only inspiring children with a love of Reading but for inspiring me to be a better person.


Jessica

Thank you Jessica for being a committed and wonderful volunteer, and thank you Mr. Salgado for being a dedicated supporter of Reading to Kids.

If you are interested in being a classroom helper, please e-mail us at volunteer@readingtokids.org

Word Puzzles!

Many of you have expressed interest in finding other activities and games to play with the 4th and 5th graders at the reading clubs. The members of the Curriculum Committee have been searching the internet tirelessly to find some fun and educational games to share. We have finally found some...

WORD PUZZLES!!!

Here are just a few of the great puzzle generators we have found and there are many, many more out there:
http://www.armoredpenguin.com/wordsearch/
http://www.armoredpenguin.com/crossword/
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/

You can make your own puzzles anytime, share them with other readers and kids. Best of all- they are FREE!

In Memory of Kevin

"I know the kids enjoyed the day, but I think I received much more from the experience than they did. I sought out a volunteer opportunity in memory of my son who passed away on Nov 5, 2009. This was a perfect way to honor him, as he was a voracious reader."
--Kelly Border, from Magnolia Elementary Grade 4

Thank you, Kelly for sharing Kevin with us- and for reminding us how important reading can be in a child's life. We welcome you to the Reading to Kids family.

Inspiring Comments from New Readers!

Reading to Kids would like to thank all of the wonderful volunteers who came out to read on January 9th! Here are just some of the inspiring comments from new volunteers:


"I was so impressed with the number of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers who regularly give their time to Reading to Kids."
--Katherine Tolford, reader at Gratts Elementary

"I feel Reading to Kids is a great organization and I admire the coordinators and volunteers for all of their hard work. I plan to stick with this and continue doing what I can to help. My overall experience at Gratts Elementary was great and I cannot wait to continue helping in the future."
--Rudie Galloway, reader from Gratts Elementary Grade 5


"The kids truly connected with the reading material. They came alive trying to guess what would happen next in the story and were eager to help us read along. It was such a wonderful experience and I look forward to coming back next month!"
--Stephanie Bohn, reader from Los Angeles Elementary Grade K


"Thank you for developing such an amazing programm. (I am) honored to be a part of it."
--Anna Aristova, reader from Politi Elementary Grade K

"I cannot tell you what a rewarding experience this was for me. It is one of those things that you walk away from saying: 'they just did more for me than I did for them.'"
--Vince Ponder, reader from White Elementary Grade K


"I worked with a kindergarten class and it went smoothly, the students paid attention and I really enjoyed my experience."
--Rosalva Rojas, reader from White Elementary Grade K

What We Are Reading...

At this weekend's "New People, New Places, New Things" Reading Club, we are reading some really fun books which will allow the volunteers to really ham it up!

The volunteers will be reading The Perfect Nest by Catherine Friend to the Kindergarten groups. Catherine Friend writes an amusing story about a hungry farm cat named Jack who cooks up a wild scheme in hopes to make the perfect omelet. Jack's plan backfires, and he ends up with much more than an omelet.

A great read-aloud book, The Perfect Nest incorporates accents for different characters (Spanish, English, and American.) The tempera painted illustrations are reminiscent of pre-CGI cartoons and jump from the page, engaging young readers.

Just remember volunteers: Don't be afraid to act silly!

To find out more about the books we are reading this Saturday visit:
http://readingtokids.org/Books/BooksMonth.php

What Reading to Kids Volunteers Are Saying...

Here are some of the great things that volunteers had to say after the December Reading Clubs:

Alejandra Arciniega, (5x) from Esperanza Elementary Grade K shares:
"We had pre-k and the kids were AMAZING. Some of them translated from English to Spanish and back so all the kids could understand. Like "beach" means "playa" and then all the kids followed along."

Sherry Dadci, (1x) from Esperanza Elementary Grade 4 shares:
"I really look forward to Reading to Kids because I know that I can help them read. They have a better and brighter future."

One anonymous reader shares:
"I really enjoyed my experience with Reading to Kids. It's so inspirational to see the kids' faces light up when we get into the readings."

Kavita Bhuyan,(5x reader) from Alta Loma Elementary Grade K shares:
"It's worth every minute to see the kids happy."

Alejandra Arciniega,(5x reader) from Esperanza Elementary Grade K shares:
"I've never worked with pre-k and I brought my boyfriend with me. When the little kids started crying I was a little bit scared. Once I introduced myself and walked them through what we were going to do, they were great. They really came out of their shells."

Patty Peters, (12x) from Los Angeles Elementary Grade 2 shares:
"Thanks for doing a great job and providing me with the opportunity to volunteer! I know there's tons of work, but it always seems to come together and work great. Thanks!"

Tiffany Tam, (0x) from Magnolia Elementary Grade 1 of UCLA Mortar Board, Agathai Chapter responds:
"Reading to Kids helped me remember way back to the time when I first fell in love with reading. I felt like I had been given a very special opportunity and responsibility to bring the picture book to life and get the kids involved in the story. [This] wasn't hard considering the excellent book I had to work with and the tips that Reading to Kids provided me with. Volunteering with Reading to Kids was so much fun that I immediately shared my experience with my friends after my first day as a reader!"