On a recent rainy day, it was all sunshine and gardens in Magen David Yeshivah as parents and children experienced literacy lessons side-by-side in their classrooms.
With the successful introduction of the new reading program, Journeys, MDY wanted to give students the opportunity to share with their parents all that they had learned throughout the year. In addition to students sharing with their parents, the goal of literacy day was to reiterate the importance of reading and how parents can join their children on the path to leading lives of literacy.
Parents were delighted as they entered the lobby to find gardens of paper flowers created by their children. Each child had a flower with his/her photo planted in the lobby. Complete with butterflies, chirping crickets and a John Deere tractor, the lobby was thoroughly transformed.
There was a special reading corner where kindergarten teachers and students demonstrated authentic reading experiences that take place within the classrooms.
After parents walked through the garden and found their childs special flower, they were invited to a presentation from nationally renowned literacy expert, Michele Burns, who spoke about making reading real at home, the importance of being involved with their childrens reading and ways to connect with their children through literature.
Rabbi Hilsenrath also took a few moments to remind parents that with the distraction of technology, we must remember to stay focused and interact with our children while they are reading, speaking or doing homework. It is not enough to just be there, we must be present in the moment and listening so that we can guide and encourage our children.
After the presentation, parents were directed to their childs classroom to participate in grade appropriate reading activities in pairs and small groups. They were welcomed by the teachers and were given a brief summary of what happens daily during reading.
Then it was time for the students to shine! Fifth grade students worked with their parents and classmates to complete interactive activities based on the reading skills and strategies that they had been focusing on during the previous week.
As you walked down the hallways, peering into rooms, you saw children with their mothers and fathers huddled together while busy at work. The students smiles reflected their enthusiasm and pride in all that they had accomplished. As each session ended, the parents and their children received a special gift bag with a chapter book and specially designed bookmark to take home. The real treasure of the day was parents and teachers coming together to stress the importance of reading. It was an extraordinary day.
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Carly Mavorah is a first grade teacher and Journeys coordinator at Magen David Yeshivah.
