"The Skin I'm In"

Our Pre-Teen girls are reading and discussing "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon Flake this summer.

D.E.A.R. Time

DROP EVERYTHING AND READ!

Blues Clues Brings All Ages Together

Throughout the week, I have noticed the kids in the library tend to group together by age. However, after all but two kids left today, I was scratching my brain on how I was going to entertain them both because they are on different reading levels. When the four year old went to the book shelf and picked up a book he was interested in reading, I told him he was a genius. He looked at me with a funny face because he did not know I didn't know what to do so he really did not know how he had saved the day. All three of us sat on the ground and the four year old and I listened as we were read to. I had never read a Blues Clues book because it came out after my childhood years, but I was moved on how it was able to bring 3 people of 3 different ages together.

Kwane's sly way of telling us he's learning

I absolutely LOVE being around kids...especially when I can see the lightbulb go on. :) ...and today was one of those moments.

I went downstairs to the After-School Academy to get some footage of the mural the kids designed, drew, and are now painting. (I'll put it together in a post soon). As I stood watching three of the kids paint, Kwane stood beside me. Quite honestly, I wasn't paying him any attention whatsoever. I was focused on the mural painting for one, but I've also learned to ignore his antics at times when he decides to act out. So I guess I was unconsciously tuning him out.

I can't quite explain my brain, but I could hear him talking, but it was little one or two word phrases so I guess I thought he was just talking to himself figuring someone would notice and tell him to be quiet or something (it's a way to get attention). Something in my brain told me what he was saying was familiar, but I guess I was just too focused on other things to pay him any mind.

"Hey. Who?"

"Oh?"

"Me?"

"You."

"Yo.Yes."

As he spoke them in small sentences, his words somehow soaked in to my brain and I realized what he was doing. I quickly turned toward him with a big smile on my face. He returned my big grin and simply said, "I saw it," with a mischievous look on his face. It was obvious he knew that he was going to shock me with his statement.

See, on our After-School Academy blog we have a Story Time link (you can see it at the top of this page. I try to post a new read-aloud that I or someone else has read to our Flip video camera and loaded to the blog. It reminds me of Reading Rainbow. When I started doing it, I didn't know if it would catch on, but I figured it couldn't hurt and it didn't take a lot of effort.

Yo! Yes! has been up quite a while. I'd never heard any kids comment on the story so I didn't know if they were utilizing our Story Time posts. Evidently, some are. If they're like Kwane, they're watching it so much that they've memorized the words. Kwane has, at times, been one of our biggest challenges. But more and more often, we are seeing his mischievous nature come out as he slyly tries to tell/show us he's learning.

Yo! Yes! is one of my favorite children's books. I'm sure you'll love it, too. You can listen to it below. If you would like to be a guest reader for us, please read your favorite book, post it to youtube, and email me the link so I can embed it in our StoryTime link. We need new stories!

Whispering Wednesdays

As I took a potential volunteer on a tour through the Connect U computer lab yesterday, I was greeted by Iesha with a nice firm handshake and good eye contact (as usual). However, as I continued walking into the lab and talking about our programs, the kids quickly shushed me.

"You've got to whisper, Miss Janet!"

"Why?" I whispered.

"Because it's Whisper Wednesday!" they whispered back in unison.

I loved it! It was so quiet in Connect U. Mr. An (our IT specialist who oversees Connect U) explained that it was Miss Katrina's idea. So I ventured over to the library to check them out as well. Sure enough, they were all as quiet as mice. Katrina was sitting on the floor with two kids leaning on her, eagerly listening to a book she was reading to them, three other kids were sitting at the table doing their homework, and a few others were in a different section quietly browsing for their next book to read.

Since September 2009, the library has sold over 170 books to the Roseland Community. The kids love buying the books (for 25 or 50 cents) and building their home libraries. When I used to walk over to the library, kids would often be running around, talking loud, and distracting each other. Katrina has done an amazing job. These days, the library seems more like a library. Kids sit around and read or do homework. When story time comes around, 15-20 faces look eagerly at Miss Katrina as she reads and does activities with them.

Building a community around reading...does it get any better?? :)

Library/Bookstore is gaining ground!

What do you do when the rain has gone away and the weather is beautiful? Go outside, of course! ...which is exactly what Ms. Katrina decided to do with her kids who came to the Library/Bookstore today. What a way to combine the greatest things ever...great weather and a good book!



I look at these eager readers and smile. Less than six months ago, children accessed books through their school library...maybe on a weekly basis. Today, the kids can visit the library/bookstore on a daily basis...and they do!

I was asking Katrina how the library was coming along. She handed me $11.50 in sales just from last week! I asked her who was buying the books. She explained to me that two new boys, Jerry and Rome, have started coming to the library. Both are about 10 years old. They're best buddies and they can't get enough of the library. They come right after school, grab a book, sit off to themselves and read silently. When they're finished reading their book, they scrounge up money and buy it. Since they've been coming, they buy about a book a day.

I had to chuckle. Katrina said she has to warn them to swallow their food. Not sure what she was talking about, she explained that since they library is open until 7:30, their parents come to get them for dinner. The boys say that they will be right back as they sprint to the house and get back as fast as they can...just so they can read some more.

The great thing is...they're not the only ones enjoying the library/bookstore services. I'll post about that later...

After the Bell: Roseland Library/Bookstore

Did you know that we have a Library/Bookstore open to all of Roseland? You can buy adult, teens, and kids books—25 cents for paperback and 50 cents for hardback books. So far, we’ve sold over $40 worth of books! If you’re a reader and would like to donate your favorites so other people can read them, we’d love that as well!

Hours are:
3:00-7:30 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
3:00-5:30 Friday
10:00-4:00 Saturday

You’re welcome to go hang out in the library, read to your children, buy books, volunteer to help Katrina shelve books, sit and read yourself, etc.

Miss Katrina and Maxine starred in the After the Bell segment on Channel 8 on Monday.

Great job guys!

Martin's Big Words

To honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. we read "Martin's Big Words" by Doreen Rappaport for Kidz Lit this week.

Check out Ms. Katrina reading to the children below, their thoughts after reading, and our very own "Dr. Iesha" shares new BIG words she learned. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Dr. King!

We Have Dreams Also...

After we read "Martin's Big Words", each student shared a dream they have for themselves, their country, and the world. Check out their dreams.....

"My dream for myself is to be a Teacher." --Ladaysha, 9 years old

"My dream for myself is to be a police officer." --Aneja

"My dream for myself is to be a doctor or a nurse. My dream for the world is for everybody to have equal rights".-- Tytiana, 8 years old

"My dream for the country is for everybody to have happiness. My dream for the world is for every person to have shelter."--Shamaria, 7 years old

"My dream for myself is to be a doctor. My dream for my country is for every one to help others." --"Dr." Iesha, 7 years old

"My dream for the world is for every to have X-Box 360's and hot dogs."--Lamarcus, 7 years old

"My dream for myself is to be a judge. My dream for the world is for everyone to have food."

--"Mr. Judge" Aviant, 7 years old

"My dream for the world is for everybody to have freedom and less people in jail".--Niesha, 9 years old

"My dream for the country to help those in need and make sure every one gets an education".--Ms. Katrina

"My dream for the world is for every person to have equal access to food, water, shelter, education, technology, healthcare, etc." --Ms. Tameshia

What's happening in the Library/Bookstore??

Yesterday, thanks to Dallas After School Network and WFAA, both our Library/Bookstore and our After-School Academy were filmed, kids were interviewed, and we will have a short segment on After the Bell soon. I'll keep you posted.

I've been hanging out at the Library/Bookstore this week helping get it ready for the kids to come back. Tuesday was our re-opening after the holidays. As soon as school was out, three kids came running, huffing and puffing into the library. Miss Katrina asked them, "What are you running for? You really just couldn't wait to see me again?" To which one of the kids looked at her quizzically and responded, "No...I couldn't wait to get to the library!" I don't think her feelings were hurt too bad. :)

While I was at the Library/Bookstore, I couldn't help but get some footage. Katrina's got a great group of kids and I was thoroughly impressed with how engaged they are every time she reads a book. Of course, you can see in the video below that you really can't help but be enthralled by the book because of her great expressions.

This video shows the different things Katrina has the kids doing after school--from story time to sign language.

Roseland Library/Bookstore

The Roseland Library/Bookstore was a buzz of activity when I entered. Ms. Anna's class from the After-School Academy was there for their KidzLit reading class. They had finished reading the book and doing their activities and were all browsing the library.

I noticed a low-key rucus begining to take place. I looked over to see Randy rather upset. One of the kids had picked up a book and Randy was afraid he was going to buy it. Miss Katrina intervened, "What's wrong?" Randy, upset, tried to explain, "He's got the book I wanted to buy!!" Katrina calmly explained to Randy, "He doesn't have any money with him today. He was just looking at the book." The other child finished looking at the book and turned it over to Randy. Randy was then able to get his book and pay Miss Katrina at the check out desk. (I believe I heard a sigh of relief. :) )

After his purchase, I realized Randy had already bought three other books that same day.

Randy quickly settled into one of the library tables and began soaking in every word on the page.










The Roseland Library/Bookstore is open for kids, teens, and adults Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3:00-7:30, Fridays from 3:00-5:30, and Saturdays from 10:00-4:00. Miss Katrina facilitates story times and book clubs for kids and teens.

All books are available to read in the library or to purchase--25 cents for paperbacks and 50 cents for hardbacks.

Storytime Campout

As I came into the office today, I noticed that the After-School Academy window that is usually brightly lit up like this:



was very dark, as if no one was there. Though there were no lights, it seemed darker than usual.

Perplexed...and, I admit, a little concerned that the teachers weren't doing their job...I started to walk in.

As I opened the door, little voices started chattering, "Someone's coming in!" and one of the dark black curtains hanging from the ceiling, encircling the kids, slightly opened so the kids could see their intruder.

"It's Ms. Janet!" they exclaimed. And quickly started telling me, "We're having a campout!"

Indeed, it was very dark...like a campout. And I looked down to see their "camp fire" in the middle of the circle (baby carrots on a piece of white tissue paper with a flashlight underneath to make it glow).

The kids had read their morning story, Bear Snores On, and were role playing and learning about kindness.







Shines go out to Nazareth, their teacher for the day, who stepped in for their regular teachers. I'm glad I walked in when I did. Sometimes it's the little events that help me realize how much the kids are learning and how much the teachers (many of them high school students...and Nazareth, a former student herself) are teaching.

Thanks, everyone!

Storytime with Deshaumbra

I would love to shine on Deshaumbra for reading with her classmates during centers yesterday. It was a beautiful day and the children wanted to both read and enjoy the sunshine, so they read outside. I would also like to shine on Dyesha and Oscar for respecting their fellow classmate as she read aloud and shared the story with them.

Joshua the Bookworm

Joshua loves to read! Almost everyday for the last
couple of weeks he will sit and read with a teacher. One day I noticed him reading by himself while the other kids were playing games and he never looked up until he was done reading that book. I am very impressed with his concentration skills because it can be difficult to concentrate on what you're reading while other things are going on around you.