Dawn reading in classroom

At home, school, or at the fair, readers make valuable contributions to children’s literacy

A Letter from Executive Director Dawn Miller

Twenty-some years ago when Kelly Griffith was teaching first grade, her class studied honeybees for a month.  

“Anything and all things honeybee,” she said. “I used my standards. We did research together. We tasted honey on biscuits. We studied beeswax and candles and crayons.  

“I had a beekeeper come in, and he brought them all little test tubes of honey to taste.  

“We dissected honeycombs. We watched videos.  

“And we read tons of different texts and different levels of texts about honeybees and flowers.”  

A month later the Title 1 teacher came in to “DIBEL” the kids, or to administer a common test called Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills.  

Then one day both the Title 1 teacher and an administrator walked into Griffith’s classroom with the results. “What did you do?” they asked.  

Griffith’s first graders, who had been grouped in her class because they struggled with reading, had “knocked it out of the park.”  

By happenstance, one of the passages that the kids were tested on was about honeybees.  

“That was powerful to me,” said Griffith. Now a coordinator for academic support with the West Virginia Department of Education, she co-leads the department’s “Ready. Read. Write.” initiative to improve reading skills across the state.  

To many older readers the effort will look familiar – teach children to accurately sound out words, explicitly and systematically, using data to differentiate instruction. That is a big part of it, and it is based on decades of research illuminating how the brain learns to read.  

At the same time, children must build knowledge and vocabulary with rich and fascinating texts and topics. For this knowledge-building work, everyone gets the support they need to access the same grade-level texts and topics regardless of decoding ability. That way, each child can enjoy and learn from the most interesting books and activities.  

Just as Griffith’s first graders did all those years ago.  

She wants community members and families to understand their role.  

“Little things, like activities in the car or during bathtime can actually make an impact in how your child makes connections, and the knowledge they come to school with, which is a huge predictor of being a proficient reader,” Griffith said.  

Reading aloud is an excellent way to give students opportunities to experience more challenging texts than they might be able to read on their own. Enter your classroom Read Aloud reader. Volunteers show up each week with another book or another chapter to enjoy together, full of rich vocabulary and complex ideas to explore, all while modeling reading for fun.  

Or a nightly bedtime book. Or the books parents keep in the car or stroller for unexpected waits. Or any reading habit anywhere. Walks through parks or historical sites. Trying and discussing new foods or interesting documentaries.  

“It’s not just decoding words,” Griffith said. “It’s having conversations. Digging in the dirt. Telling them what is in the dirt.  

“I want families to hear that message, because I want them to know that they have an important role in their students’ literacy. The knowledge they bring to school helps with those literacy skills, even before they start reading on their own.  

“I don’t know that I knew that even as a young teacher.” 

Throughout this newsletter, you will find communities where the message has been received. Reading role models are carrying out their important role – at the Jackson County Fair, at an event for new and expectant mothers in Raleigh County, at Women and Children’s Hospital in Kanawha County, and in Read Aloud classrooms all over the state.    

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Energy Express has always held a special spot in my heart

By Bob Johnson

Energy Express has always held a special spot in my heart. Several years ago, the local WVU Extension agent told me about the need for Read Aloud volunteers during the six-weeks-long reading and nutrition program (with two meals served daily) held during summers. The whole process clicked with me. Since I am a part-time teacher, my summers were free. Why not volunteer to read with kids?

Bob Johnson reads to Energy Express students at Cherry River Elementary in Nicholas County.

My first opportunity coincidentally came at my alma mater elementary school. I had spent grades one through eight there. Yes, that dates me, but I fondly and clearly remember the teachers who had taken the effort to read aloud with my classes. There was a warmth in those classrooms, where teachers said, in effect: “I have a beautiful story that I want to share with you.” In my mind’s eye, that is effective instruction.

Over the summers since my first readings, I have subsequently been able to read in three more locations in four sessions with Energy Express. I often use the classic stories of Seuss, since each one holds a nugget of morality which students need to hear from an adult. Sometimes, the readings are supplied by the Energy Express site. While that is convenient, there is no time to rehearse the reading selection, one of my personal rules of reading aloud. Sitting with students is the expectation of many Energy Express locations, but I prefer reading while standing at a music stand or other platform at a convenient height, so my old eyes can easily focus on the reading. It is also the only way I have found to ensure that inflection is heard, and gestures, body language, and expressions are easily seen by listeners.

Energy Express and Read Aloud WV share some common goals: 1) Get valuable books into the hands of students, and/or 2) into the ears of listeners by reading aloud. I am privileged to know the directors of both programs. Mark Swiger heads Energy Express with West Virginia University, while Dawn Miller is at the helm of Read Aloud WV. Both leaders have only one thing in mind, which is reaching readers at many grade levels with enriching opportunities that expand interest in books.

Adult volunteers are an essential part of both reading efforts. Please consider sharing your reading skills with students at every opportunity.

To learn more about Energy Express, go to: extension.wvu.edu/youth-family/youth-education/energy-express

Bob Johnson is a member of the Read Aloud WV of Nicholas County Chapter Board and teaches in a Save the Children US, after-school program at Cherry River Elementary School in Richwood

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The next normal, whatever it is

Letter from the Executive Director, Dawn Miller

All year, Read Aloud chapters around the state have adapted and adapted again to best serve children, families and schools as conditions have changed. Volunteers read online when possible, by recording when desired, and ramped up book distributions. They handed out books with meals, at special drive-through events and increasingly, as schools have re-opened, first to students, then to guests, at more traditional in-person events.

Many volunteers have expressed interest in reading at programs this summer, they miss their classes so much. We are taking requests from summer programs and matching them with eager volunteer readers. (To arrange yours, contact your local chapter or email stateoffice@readaloudwv.org.)

While readers were cut off from their classrooms and students were cut off from their classroom libraries, Read Aloud doubled up on its usual book distribution efforts. In a good year, Read Aloud gives away 10,000 books and magazines to children around the state. Since Jan. 1, 2020 to this spring, Read Aloud has given out more than 25,000.

As regular volunteers know, Read Aloud is particular in how it gives out books. All of Read Aloud’s efforts emphasize choice because choice is an important factor in motivating children to read for pleasure, just as it is important to adults.

With the restrictions of the past year, volunteers sought and found new ways to engage students, to ask, “What are you reading?”

We adapted classroom “book tastings” where students get to discuss and recommend books. They, their teachers and volunteers may read excerpts. After a chance to “taste” a variety of books, children choose a book to keep.

Thanks to a windfall of books for middle- and high schoolers, we were able to offer a school wide book tasting at Buckhannon-Upshur High School. You can read the details on page 1.

Teachers and volunteers adapted events to their particular needs.

In Jackson County, Chapter President Janet McCauley organized half a dozen classroom book tastings in elementary schools. Teachers in those classrooms chose to lead the events themselves, sampling and reading books with children, and then giving students the opportunity to choose their books.

Just recently, Alban Elementary teacher Allison Stephens and her colleagues invited Kanawha Chapter President Derek Hudson and me to virtually attend their in-person classroom book tastings. Teachers gave children opportunities to preview the books. During the event, the children recommended books to us and to each other. When there was a lull, which was not often, Derek and I were available to build on the conversation about Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems, or The Lost Dinosaur Bone by Mercer Mayer, for example. It was a good time.

Berkeley County reader and chapter member Casey Willson and Kanawha County reader Jackie Thompson both tried a different approach, a “read along.” Every student in their classes one week received a copy of the book they read virtually.

Whatever the approach, all of these efforts give children opportunities to practice what they are learning, to find the words to express their thoughts, and to make connections with each other and with caring adults.

Even when they don’t admit it, children, even teens, are influenced by the adults who care for them. That means if parents, grandparents, teachers, and other mentors make time to discover good things to read and share their discoveries, young people will be influenced.

We will continue the stepped-up book distributions, because nothing beats summer learning loss like reading books for fun.

Looking ahead to fall, we are hopeful that schools will be able to welcome volunteer readers back to their classrooms. We are eager to be there, and plan to adapt to whatever the next normal is.

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10 to try: Our readers recommend

At the end of every school year, we ask our volunteer readers to tell us about their experience and share some books that worked well in their classrooms. Here are some favorites!

Freedom Soup by Tami Charles

“I have found children enjoy learning about other cultures.”

­— Derniere Marshall, Jefferson County


A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements

“I highly recommend A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements! I read this to a 5th grade class after asking the classroom teacher if she had any recommendations of stories she thought her students would enjoy. She was spot-on with this recommendation! The students were mesmerized by the story! Their recall of what they had heard the prior week was amazing…recalling many details and responding without prompts! This story held their interest, had many twists in the storyline, and included humor and compassion.”

— Kathleen (Kathy) Bennett, Berkeley County


I Am a Bee: A Book about Bees for Kids by Rebecca and James McDonald

“I used a hand puppet (Bee) and the children (PreK) loved interacting with the puppet. Had I been able to read again I would have used my possum puppet.”

­— Paulette J. Buzbee, Raleigh County


Fortunately, The Milk by Neil Gaiman

A madcap story with pirates, piranhas, adventure, aliens, time travel and breakfast cereal.

— Margaret (Meg) Squier, Greenbrier County


Painter and Ugly by Robert J. Blake

“I always try to make the kids laugh. I hope my choice of books is interesting so it keeps their attention.”
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— Cathy Shaffer,
Preston County


Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown

“Every year I pick up second-hand books and arrange a couple of situations where I distribute a book to each member of the class… It’s especially nice when some of the books I have are ones I’ve read to the class and the kids are eager to get those titles. This year I read Flat Stanley and then during their Trunk or Treat event at Halloween, I set up a Flat Stanley display. It turned out really cool and I was able to find numerous Flat Stanley books for the kids to choose from and keep.”

­— Judy Hurst, Marion County


The Star People: A Lakota Story by S.D. Nelson

Two children stray from their village and are helped by their deceased grandmother, one of the Star People.

— Sandra Summers, Jackson County


Creepy Pair of Underwear! by Aaron Reynolds

“I look forward to reading exciting and interesting stories to the children this fall, hopefully, in the traditional classroom setting. It’s such an enjoyable experience.”

— Crystal Morgan, Mason County


The Cay by Theodore Taylor

“I always do an activity with the students after reading the book. For example, after The Cay, I brought in coconuts and we cracked them and tasted the milk and flesh. Very few of the students had ever seen a real coconut before. After a book on Helen Keller, I teach them braille and sign language.”

— Sheila Amato, Preston County


Tanka Tanka Skunk! by Steve Webb

“A hit with both my first grade readers as well as my fourth grade readers. I brought egg shakers for every student and we made the Tanka Tanka beats together. I had to start bringing it every week!”

— Amy Dinaldo, Nicholas County

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What next?

Do your best to stay on mission, while keeping yourself and your communities safe. That is the advice Read Aloud volunteers, chapter leaders and colleagues have traded back and forth since spring. Keep up the good work.

By Dawn Miller

Read Aloud West Virginia continued to work all spring and summer toward the mission of motivating children to read for fun, to nourish their reading skills for life.

Here’s how we’ll keep doing it.


Classroom readers
Brooks Bower tries out one of the new reading hammocks on the first day of Coda Engage, a project of Coda Mountain Academy in Fayette County. Read Aloud West Virginia is a partner, offering books for children to choose and to keep, and for the academy’s growing library.

In our regular end-of-school survey, teachers overwhelmingly said that they would welcome live, virtual read alouds from a dedicated volunteer, if in-person visits were not possible. Most often, these would occur via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, though individual schools or counties may have other preferences.

To assist returning readers, Read Aloud chapters have been working on their own video-conferencing skills, and developing an updated orientation (delivered virtually, of course) to help readers grow confident for reading this fall.

Virtual orientations can also be scheduled for new readers. Anyone interested in attending either type of orientation may call 304-345-5212 or email stateoffice@readaloudwv.org. Registration is required.

Some readers and teachers have favored pre-recorded videos. The Fayette County Chapter is establishing a studio for making read aloud videos, but most readers simply use their smartphones. (See tips, right)


Book distribution

Schools closed just when it was time to start one of our most important efforts, a distribution project called Summer Book Binge. Based on research that shows a bag of freely chosen books given at the end of the school year does more to prevent summer learning loss than summer school, Read Aloud has developed this project over years, starting in Greenbrier County, and then Raleigh and Fayette and this year Wood and Berkeley. The pre-pandemic model relied on multiple visits to schools and much in-person contact, including a school assembly where the books were delivered with great activity and enthusiasm.

With those options closed, Read Aloud quickly reorganized an order process by mail. A $10,000 in-kind matching grant from First Book made it possible for Read Aloud to send more than 7,000 books to the homes of 870 children in the five counties. Children got to choose their books, a key ingredient in motivation, according to research.

Lessons from that project, combined with the prolonged interruption to school and uncertainty about fall, suggested a way to serve children and their families this summer and beyond.

In July, we softly launched Read Aloud Families (with the help of partner Energy Express). Based on the same data and methods as our Book Binge, combined with research on habits and motivation, Read Aloud Families delivers monthly books — that children choose — and materials to motivate families to read together through the pandemic and beyond.

Membership is by invitation only for now, but we plan to expand it as capacity allows. Each chapter identifies groups of families to be invited, through schools or other organizations they work with. At this writing, more than 125 families had joined, with more than 250 children, all over the state.

Marion County chapter president
Beverly Richards, loads her car up with magazines to distribute via local feeding sites.

In the future, chapters will organize events for members, virtually, as necessary, but perhaps outdoors if it can be done safely. These events will be opportunities for children and their families to share the books they love, recommend and receive recommendations, and grow their reading communities.

Meanwhile, chapters are distributing books by other means. Jefferson and Marion are among those providing books for families when they collect school meals. Nicholas and Jackson are making plans to restock Little Free Libraries or other community bookshelves.


Partnerships

Even before the pandemic WVU Extension and Read Aloud were exploring ways to work together on Energy Express, the federal program that provides both literacy opportunities, including reading aloud, and nutritional meals to children during summer break.

This summer, Energy Express staffers attended Read Aloud orientations (virtually, of course). Read Aloud offered the first memberships to Read Aloud Families to Energy Express participants. Families have joined from all over the state, even in counties where Read Aloud has no active chapter. Each one affirms their intention to read with children, just for fun, most days of each week. They agree to give children a choice of books to read and to protect children’s reading time.

In Fayette County, thanks to Fayette Chapter President Marion Tanner, Read Aloud has partnered with the Coda Mountain Academy. About 25 children had the opportunity to choose Read Aloud books of their own.
Coda started as a music camp, but has grown into many fields, including science and art. This summer the academy completed its outdoor classroom, just in time for the need for physically distanced and outdoor learning spaces.

Ten new reading hammocks invite elementary-age children during Coda Engage, a summer day camp run by Coda Mountain Academy. Elsewhere, masked and physically spaced, children engage in other activities, including robotics and violin lessons.

Coda President Esther Morey said children were happy and relieved to be outside and to be together, even with modifications and safety rules.

As they were walking toward the first circle game, Morey told us one girl said, “That looks funner than being on my iPad and phone all day.”

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10 to Try: West Virginia Day

West Virginia Day celebrates the anniversary of West Virginia joining the Union and becoming its own state, separate from Virginia, in 1863. In celebration of our state’s founding, we collected a list of children’s books featuring the mountain state and its many stellar authors. We enjoyed putting these together so much that this 10 to Try actually features twelve great books because we just couldn’t narrow it down to ten. Enjoy!

When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant (Grades K to 3)

An evocative and eloquent tribute to growing up in rural Appalachia.

— Suzanne Wood, Fayette County


From Miss Ida’s Porch by Sandra Belton (Grades 3 and up)

A Raleigh County native, Sandra Belton paints a picture familiar to West Virginians, the very best time of day, evenings on the porch. In her warm, conversational way, she lets readers sit alongside the kids in the story to hear their old-timers talk about life before the Civil Rights movement, and after.  


More Than Anything Else by Marie Bradby (Grades 1 to 5)

This is the story of Booker T. Washington who would write “Up From Slavery” as an adult. In this story he is a child laboring at the salt works and struggling to teach himself what he wants to know “more than anything else.” Beautifully illustrated by Chris Soentpiet.


The King of Little Things by Bil Lepp (Grades K to 5)

Champion West Virginia storyteller Bil Lepp can make almost anyone sound good with his rhythmic rhymes, telling the story of a modest little king and the unsung odds and ends that stick up for him. It is wonderfully silly and subtle.


Panther Mountain: Lydia’s Story by Christy Perry Tuohey (Grades 5 to 8)

I would highly recommend Panther Mountain: Lydia’s Story by Christy Perry Tuohey. The book deals with the area that would become the state of West Virginia and includes several local references such as Gauley Bridge and Summersville. I purchased the book last fall with the hope of reading it to the Fifth Graders at Fayetteville Prek-8. 

— Janice Wiseman, Fayette County  


Passing the Music Down by Sarah Sullivan (pre-K to adult)

There may be no Vandalia Gathering this year, but you can enjoy a lyrical story, inspired by the tradition of passing the music down to each generation. Any age can find something to appreciate here.


Where, Oh Where, Oh Where, Could We Go? by Tony Caridi (Ages 3+)

Travel across the mountain state touring popular locations and learning to identify the unique WV shape hidden on each page in this rhyming, fast-paced adventure.

— Jeremy Crites, Putnam County


No Star Nights by Anna Smucker (Grades 2 to 5)

The author remembers growing up in Weirton, when smoke from the steel mills blocked the night sky. 


Golden Delicious: A Cinderella Apple Story by Anna Smucker (Grades 3 to 5)

I read this to preschoolers and they enjoyed that West Virginia was highlighted in the book, and they also enjoyed their golden delicious apples from Clay County.

— Deb Blakeman, Kanawha County


John Henry by Julius Lester and Jerry Pinkney (Grade PreK to 3)

There are several books about John Henry, the legendary West Virginia man who challenged a new steam-powered tool to stop it from taking the men’s jobs. This one draws details from several versions passed down over the years, highlighting the aspirations of the men.


Mountain Christmas by Marc Harshman (Grades K to 3)

Track Santa on his way to West Virginia with state Poet Laureate Marc Harshman.


West Virginia: A History by John Alexander Williams (middle school to adult)

Each of seven chapters stands alone as a readable, discussion-prompting story for middle school students or older. Each takes on a problem or topic in West Virginia history. Visit Point Pleasant, Harpers Ferry, Droop Mountain, Tug Fork, Paint Creek, Hawks Nest or Buffalo Creek.


The majority of the links above will route you to the online store of Charleston’s Taylor Books. You can still have your books sent to you, as with most online retailers, and your purchase will benefit a West Virginia small business and help to keep local bookstores open!

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10 to Try: Juneteenth

Juneteenth is the anniversary of June 19, 1865 when the news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached the enslaved people of Texas, the last state to get the news. We decided to celebrate this Juneteenth by collecting a list of book recommendations from our volunteer classroom readers and supporters.

Our readers know the importance of exposing children to diverse texts. It helps every child find books with characters that look like them and their communities, but it also ensures that children are exposed to new cultures, ideas, and experiences that will help them become more accepting, empathetic adults. That’s why it’s important for books like these to be staples in your library all year long, not just today.


Nobody Owns the Sky: The Story of “Brave Bessie” Coleman by Reeve Lindbergh (Grades 2 and up)

Every year I read this book about “Brave Bessie” Coleman to my school group to let them know that with persistence, dreams are possible. Bessie Coleman became the first licensed African-American aviator in the world.

— Jeannie Plumley, Kanawha County


Jackie & Me (Baseball Card Adventures) by Dan Gutman (Grades 4-6)

— Helen Herlocker, Morgan County


Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson by Katherine Johnson (Grades 4-6)

I read the Jackie Robinson book to 6th graders at PawPaw Elementary (they loved it so much that I read it again to the following year’s class) and I’m planning to read the Katherine Johnson autobiography in the fall. Both are particularly relevant to our current Black Lives Matter national issue.

— Helen Herlocker, Morgan County


Juneteenth For Mazie by Floyd Cooper (Grades 1-4)

The illustrations were beautifully done. We enjoyed how the importance of Juneteenth was translated into a way children could understand it. It was done in such a way that I was able to open up with my children about how the history of Mazie’s family was different than our own. It allowed them to sympathize with a social issue by sympathizing with another child. It helped them to grasp the benefits they have that others did/do not.

— Nicole Walls, Marion County


We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices edited by Wade Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson (Grades 3-7)

What do we tell our children when the world seems bleak, and prejudice and racism run rampant? With 96 lavishly designed pages of original art and prose, fifty diverse creators lend voice to young activists.

— Caitlin Gaffin, Kanawha County


Zoey & Sassafras series by Asia Citro (Grades 1-5)

— Tess Jackson, Putnam


Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol series by Andres Miedoso (Grades K-4)

Both “Zoey and Sassafras” and “Desmond Cole” feature people of color as main characters without the narrative being based around race. Zoey and her cute cat Sassafras use the scientific method to care for mythical creatures. Desmond and his best pal, Andres, investigate paranormal happenings.

— Tess Jackson, Putnam County


Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor (Grades 6 and up)

This book poignantly tells the story of how 9-year old Cassie Logan and her close-knit family face violence and racism during the depression era. I read this book to my high school seniors and they loved it. A great book to read aloud!

— Meg Ashby, Nicholas County


New Kid by Jerry Craft (Grades 5-8)

I suggest you search the Corretta Scott King Book Awards Web Site for many wonderful books with their descriptions for all ages. This is a valuable resource any time of the year. Why wait for Juneteenth for diversity?

— Ghee Gossard, Kanawha County


What Color is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Raymond Obstfeld (Grades 3-7)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, basketball legend and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, champions a lineup of little-known African-American inventors in this lively, kid-friendly book. Offering profiles with fast facts and framed by a funny contemporary story featuring two feisty twins, here is a tribute to black inventors whose ingenuity and perseverance against great odds made our world safer, better, and brighter.

— Peshka Calloway and her 9-year-old son


The links above will route you to the online store of Charleston’s Taylor Books. You can still have your books sent to you, as with most online retailers, and your purchase will benefit a West Virginia small business and help to keep local bookstores open!

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To nonprofit volunteers and employees who are struggling during COVID-19

By Amanda Schwartz

This morning, I woke up to news of another cancelled event in my future. The 4-H camp I volunteer at every year in June will not be happening. I knew this was a likely possibility, and in this landscape of physical distance and overtaxed healthcare systems, I know it’s the right call, but that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.

As a long-time community volunteer and nonprofit employee, I know the secret to this work – you get back more than you give. The joy of the children I serve yearly at this camp recharges and restores me so I can keep giving myself to the cause.

In my case, my day job is all about literacy. My work helps motivate children to read for fun and build foundational skills that will serve them their entire lives. But Read Aloud WV is just a thread in a vast array of nonprofits that interweave across our state and our nation to serve a collective goal: a better educated, healthier, happier society.

I am in good company, among thousands of people who have also devoted their lives to helping.

So now, I’m speaking to you, my fellow volunteers and nonprofit workers. Because surely some of you are also feeling sad, lost, and/or overwhelmed during this COVID crisis. Surely some of you are also wondering why there’s suddenly a deficit in your work, why you feel like you’re giving more than you’re getting back, when the work once gave your life so much purpose.

I have no elevated wisdom to give nor easy fixes. There is no easy solution for grief, which expert David Kessler says we’re experiencing. He says it helps to name it, so I thought we could do that together, since “together” is feeling like such a foreign sensation nowadays.

On a large scale, we’re grieving the loss of the world as we know it, but on a more individual level, we’re grieving for all the events and programs where we were going to do work we love. We’re grieving for conferences where we were going to connect with fellow changemakers and the fundraisers that were going to sustain our work and potentially our paychecks. We’re grieving for the children who are stuck at home – the ones so many of us are still trying to serve with food, books, education, and other necessities.

Maybe we tell ourselves we’re lucky, when so many have already lost loved ones to the coronavirus, that we don’t have more to grieve for, and yes, those of us who haven’t lost someone are fortunate. Yet all of us are still likely experiencing what Kessler calls “anticipatory grief,” fearing for the safety of our families and communities, and that too is valid grief.

We’re grieving in our separate little circles of physical distancing, and sometimes it feels like we’re all alone carrying this weight. But I’m here too, struggling and taking steps forward anyway with you. Read Aloud WV is here, working alongside you to improve lives through literacy.

You are not alone.

When I get overwhelmed, it helps me to remember that you’re out there, fighting the good fight. Hopefully, thinking of me will do the same for you.

Amanda Schwartz is the Communications and Development Director for Read Aloud West Virginia, as well as a long-time volunteer with Putnam County 4-H Camp.

Photo by Kristina Tripkovic on Unsplash

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Volunteer Readers: Record yourself reading aloud to send to your class

Missing your Read Aloud class? We can help! Just record yourself doing your normal read aloud routine, upload it to this Google Drive folder with your name and school in the title, and we’ll put it on our YouTube and Facebook pages for you to share with your teacher. Then your teacher can share the video with parents from your class, so the kids can still see you reading aloud even when they’re at home!

Here are some guidelines to help you make a successful video:

  1. Pick a quiet spot in your home, where your read aloud won’t be interrupted by loud noises or people walking past.
  2. Use the best video camera you can find. This may be your phone, and that’s great! Just be sure to turn it horizontal before you start recording.
  3. Make sure your camera is stable. If you’re having someone else record you, let them rest their arm on a table or the back of a chair so the picture doesn’t wobble.
  4. Follow the rules you normally would for a read aloud session – practice reading the book three times beforehand, use voices (if you are comfortable doing so) to make the story engaging, and show pictures to the camera!

If you have any trouble making or uploading your video, email Amanda at aschwartz@readaloudwv.org.

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Readers to postpone school visits until further notice

Dear Readers,

Thank you for your commitment and service to West Virginia children.  

In the interest of slowing the spread of the coronavirus, please postpone reading in schools until further notice. Please let your teacher know.

Even if you are not in a particularly high-risk group for complications from COVID-19, it is important for all of us to take every step possible to slow the spread of the infection.

Here is an excellent explanation of how cancelling gatherings before a case is confirmed will save lives:

https://www.vox.com/2020/3/10/21171481/coronavirus-us-cases-quarantine-cancellation

In addition, for the health of you, your families and your communities, here is another good story explaining how soap and water (which is plentiful) destroy this virus better than anything else (although hand sanitizer is good if soap and water are unavailable). 

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2020/3/11/21173187/coronavirus-covid-19-hand-washing-sanitizer-compared-soap-is-dope

We are in the process of cancelling orientations and other events through the end of March. We will assess April events as they draw nearer. 

We will post updates on our website and on Facebook and Twitter as warranted. Those sources will also be good ways to keep in touch and to share more frequent updates as we confront this challenge together.

Read Aloud is still working, still active, still getting the message out to families about the importance of reading for fun, still working on book distribution projects. We hope you will safely continue to model good reading habits for the children in your lives.

If anyone arranges a new way to share their love of books with children without risking the spread of this virus, please let us know. Putnam County Library on Thursday announced it would move as many programs as possible to Facebook Live, for example. https://twitter.com/putnamlibrarywv

This glossary of terms is very helpful: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/science/coronavirus-terms-to-know.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur&action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage

If the recommended social distancing threatens to turn into social isolation and is getting you down, here is some commiseration from the New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/with-the-coronavirus-hell-is-no-other-people

If you are on social media, look us up. Let’s keep our distance, but not be isolated.

If not, give us a call or email. We can chat. Maybe we will come up with a new good idea.

Thank you again, and be safe,

Dawn Miller
Executive Director