Atlanta BookPAL, Rob Pralgo, reads at River Eves Elementary School in Roswell, Georgia
I'd like to thank all of the wonderful BookPALS who have participated in the Atlanta BookPALS Program in 2007! Here's to another great year of reading in 2008!
Atlanta BookPAL, Rob Pralgo, reads at River Eves Elementary School in Roswell, Georgia
The following are some comments collected from BookPALS and Schools.
ASA PHILIP RANDOLPH
ROSALYN CAMP, SCHOOL COORDINATOR
"Mr. Gripper is the very best! The students enjoy him very much. We love Mr. Gripper at Asa Philip Randolph. Thank you, Ms. Tinius, for your support! Happy Holidays!"
LOVE T. NOLAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CHANDRA D. LEMONS, PRINCIPAL
"Ms. (Carolyn) Ellis is dedicated to our school and shows her commitment each week. She is always on time and is excited about going into the classrooms!"
RIVER EVES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
KATY POPICK, TEACHER
"I really enjoy having Rob (Pralgo) come and read to my class. The kids enjoy listening to him. He is very energetic in his reading and kind to the children!"
RIVER EVES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
JEANNIE JONES, TEACHER
"The students thoroughly enjoy listening to Mr. Pralgo read and the added humor he brings to the stories!"
RIVER EVES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
MARY ELLEN ROBSON, SCHOOL COORDINATOR
"Dennis (Klein) is well-loved by our first-graders. He gets the children involved in the stories, i.e.; playing the dreidel. Our BookPALS did an amazing job! Mr. Klein is soooooo sweet!! Dennis has agreed to be a judge in the Fulton County Spelling Bee, which River Eves is hosting in January!"
DOUG KAYE,
BOOKPAL AT BURGESS-PETERSON ACADEMY
"Another year, already half over. Where does the time go? I continue to introduce ALL of Burgess-Peterson's kindergarteners to the wonders of reading, and I'm very pleased with their response. Also, their delight at receiving the gifts of books, thanks to those wonderful publishers who donated books to our BookPALS chapter, is gratifying.
I'm finding ways to work other little lessons into the reading time, especially with geography. They may not remember exactly where Sweden or Scotland are, but they're getting a grasp of how the globe represents different countries, and what their relationship is to the U.S. and Georgia. They will at least remember that Santa's at the very top and Tacky the Penguin is at the very bottom.
This school cut back from four kindergartens to three this year, but since I got used to putting in that two hours each week, I alternate between a couple of the first-grade classes, thus continuing my relationship with last year's kindergarteners. And yes, they do remember the books that I read to them last year, and clamor for more of the same. I try them out on material that's a little more sophisticated, though.
As ever, my Curious George doll pokes his head out of my book bag to listen to the story. If he's not there right away, they all cry, 'Where's George??!!' Actually, the little usual one (not the larger one with the Santa hat that makes his appearance between Thanksgiving and Christmas) has a magnet in his hand, so he usually clings to the overhead projector or something else metallic that's next to where I sit. They've all got to hug him, as well as me, before we leave. Otherwise, neither of us would ever hear the end of it!"
TEMI LEVY,
BOOKPAL AT HIGHTOWER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
"I've been so glad to return to Hightower Elementary as a BookPAL volunteer this year! I'm reading to three different first-grade classes. We started with The Biggest and Brightest Light by Marilyn Perlyn; a wonderful story about a first-grader who learns how her actions can truly make a difference in other people's lives. We moved onto Madeline - Madeline in London and Madeline's Rescue. We discussed how a group of books that pertains to the same characters and situations is called a series.
I've tried to get the kids more involved as I read to them, letting them make noises and expressions to go along with the stories. They've seemed to enjoy this active participation, although I must say that these classes are also very well-behaved, and quiet listeners, too! I look forward to continuing to read to them after the new year, and exploring new, creative ways to get them to take part in the stories!"
HEATHER PLACE,
BOOKPAL AT NORTON PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
"My 7th year at Norton Park has been wonderful so far! I am reading to all of the first-grade classes and all of the kindergarten classes on a rotating basis. As always, I started out the school year reading the classic fairy tales. This year I also read fables to the first-graders, who had a field trip to The Fable Factory to see some of the Aesop's fables staged by high school students. Lately, I've been reading holiday stories, including 'The Polar Express.' At the end of the story, I tell the children that if they believe, then on the count of three, they have to yell out, 'I Believe!!' What a beautiful sound it is to hear 40 or 50 children's voices saying, 'I Believe!' in unison! Have a magical holiday!"
SHERRY RICHARDS,
NEW BOOKPAL
"I don't have much to say except that it was a pleasure to meet and hear from the other BookPALS at our Reader Training Workshop. Their enthusiasm about the children they read for intensified my own anticipated excitement! I'm looking forward to my turn to help children learn and enjoy reading!"
BookPALS
http://www.bookpals.net/content/article.php?story=2007123112193425