Assistant Principal Jennifer Valentine getting ready to read to some students. Photo by J. Harris.
By Jacki Harris
For two weeks in October, over 800 students at Central Elementary
participated in a Read-For-All pilot program. The program is aimed at
building awareness of Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D)
while promoting awareness, respect and appreciation for all ways of
reading.
Read-For-All was a voluntary read-a-thon where students were rewarded
with incentives based on the number of minutes read. Students read to
themselves, read to others, had a friend or family member read to them
or used alternative reading technology, such as RFB&D audio
textbooks. Students completed a reading log that will include student
and parent signature.
RFB&D was founded in 1948 by Anne T. Macdonald, a member of New
York Public Library's Women's Auxiliary, who wanted to help soldiers
blinded in combat during World War II take advantage of the newly
passed GI Bill of Rights. This new law guaranteed a college education
to all veterans; they wrote to Macdonald asking for help finding books
they could access.
The Read-For-All program received financial support from the Fluvanna
Education Foundation and the Fluvanna Friends of Reading for the Blind
and Dyslexic. Jennifer Valentine, assistant principal at Central
Elementary, led the program there with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
"We are thrilled to offer students another reason to be excited about reading," stated Valentine.
"Central Elementary is an amazing school. It has been great working
with Jen Valentine, Jan Rothwell and the staff, who all have been very
welcoming and supportive throughout the project," stated Michele
Shepherd, regional major gift and planned giving officer for RFB&D.
The third, fourth, and fifth grade students all participated. Several of the teachers also chose to participate.
A kickoff ceremony and celebration party marked the beginning and end
of the program. Barry Douglas and Amanda Lopez, Fluvanna County High
School students who are also members of RFB&D, helped to inspire
the students at the kickoff.
RFB&D hopes to offer the program throughout the Commonwealth. "In
regard to next steps, we are formulating how to make this program easy
to implement not only in Fluvanna County but also throughout Virginia.
We are very excited about this program," stated Milligan.
Read-a-Thon Totals
Winning Classrooms
5th Grade – Backlund ’s Class (10,825 minutes)
4th Grade - Dieter’s Class (15,765 minutes)
3rd Grade - Baskfield’s Class (7,856)
Teacher with the most minutes - Hardy (1,270)
3rd graders read 38,013 minutes
4th graders read 63,086 minutes
5th graders read 66,552 minutes
Staff read 5,055 minutes with seven participating
Total Minutes Read for first RFB&D Read-For-All at Central Elementary School: 172,706 minutes (2,878 hours, 120 days)