United Volunteer Club's:
  Seuss on the Loose--
    United in Reading
       
A project funded through an NEA: Youth Leaders for Literacy grant


Pictured above are members of the United Volunteer Club, who were one of 20 organizations nation-wide to receive a $500 grant from the NEA: Youth Leaders for Literacy program. Their project, “Seuss on the Loose–United in Readingâ€�, focuses on a variety of literacy activities that will be presented to United District families, students, and community members over the next eight weeks.  Each week will have a theme revolving around literacy which highlights a Dr. Seuss book. Last week’s kick-off activities included serving Green Eggs and Ham at the breakfast program and a special visit by the Cat in the Hat!  Volunteer club members also read stories to many of the elementary classes. A final activity will be held on April 21, 2006 with a family and community Read-in the-Park occurring in the local parks within the district. To view the activities that have been planned for the next few weeks, click on the links listed on this page. The Volunteer Club would like to thank the National Education Association, and  Youth Service America, who sponsored the funding for this grant.

List of March activities
 List of April activities






A sign-up list of activities for
 the months of March and
April are created....





...and students begin to sign up.


Volunteer Members open Bears that have arrived for the
Be Excited About Reading (B.E.A.R.) activity

Sign-Up Sheets like the one shown above were made for each elementary lounge for teachers to sign up for activities.


Mrs. Shimmin's class started out the week by
Reading Across America...

...on a U.S. map made by volunteer members!  
A clothesline of the 50 states hung in both elementary areas helped encourage students to "Read Across America"



A B.E.A.R. (Be Excited About Reading) contest was held by participating classrooms. The winning bear was "Laura Bear", who was based on Laura from the Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series. She was entered by Mrs. Peirce's 5th grade class. The class bears that were entered are pictured below:
 

"Green Eggs and Ham" with the 'Cat in the Hat'--March 2, 2006














Volunteers Share a Love of Reading


March 8, 2006--Students brought lists of their family's favorite books.  They were printed on signs like those shown below for all to see.
                                                                  
March 10, 2006--Donuts for Dad, Muffins for Moms
A number of parents came to school with their child and read a story to them in the library before school.
Volunteer members made muffins for the moms who came, and donuts were purchased for the dads.








Thanks, parents,  for making
 reading special for your children!



The theme for the week of March 12-17 was Reading Helps us at Work. This week was highlighted by visits from moms and dads sharing how they used reading in their work.  A special Career Dress-Up Day held on Friday of that week.
   








Start Early! was the theme for the week of March 19-24.  Volunteer members made their own books and shared them with the Pre-K classes.








Read For Fun week was highlighted by a Create a Bookmark contests. Winning bookmarks are pictured below.  Winners received a Beta fish complete with food and bowl. 




 


Read for 15 Minutes Each Day week was a big hit.  Activities included students 'kicking off their shoes' and reading, a visit from local podiatrist Dr. Macek, and students reading for 15 minutes a day at home.  So many students participated in the read at home for 15 minutes campaign, that every elementary class was rewarded with a class book!






Literacy Involves the Community was the theme for April 9-14th. Students were treated to a visit by Mr. Hansen of the Illinois Conservation Foundation. Mr. Hansen spoke of the importance of conserving our resources and wildlife. A "Caught Reading" Campaign was held also, with a number of recognizable folks 'caught in the act' of reading, some of whom are shown below:








The final week of our literacy campaign included a door decorating contest, and a Read in the Park day.

South Campus Kindergarten door
 South Campus 1st Grade door
 South Campus 2nd Grade door
 South Campus 3rd grade door
Reading at the park is fun!!!


Back to United home page

This page created by UHS webmaster, March 2006.

*Cat in the Hat/Read Across America image courtesy of the NEA web site. TM & © 1997 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. and NEA. Cat in the Hat image
TM & © 1957 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. All Rights Reserved.