FARMINGTON – Prekindergarten teachers at W.G. Mallett School are creating a project to connect their classroom curriculum to children’s experiences with books at home.
Erika Neal, Wendy Oakley and Sara Spear are providing books to children each month, October through June. Each book will be accompanied by a guide for parents, allowing them to focus on certain aspects within the books, ask specific guiding questions while reading together, and introduce follow up activities that can be done at home.
The goal, the teachers say, is to connect students to concepts within the books.
Neal, Oakley and Spear cite recent research indicating that early literacy experiences literally shape brain function, and that access to books in the home is a major indicator of future literacy levels. The pre-K teachers are partnering with local businesses who are donating funds to sponsor a month of books. Inside each book will be a label stating that the book of the month is provided by the sponsoring business.
The teachers wish to thank the businesses/organizations that have already provided sponsorship: The Farmington Rotary Club, ACME Land Surveying, Foothills Property Management, and the Western Maine Play Museum.
Those interested in learning more about the program or if you are a business owner interested in sponsoring a month, please contact Erika Neal at WG Mallett School 778-3529 or eneal@mtbluersd.org
Love this idea so much!!
A great program that we’re happy to help with! If our board members can pool their dollars to raise the $100 needed than I’m sure that most area businesses could do the same.
Angela McLeod
Natalie loves this book and her pre-k class!!!!