Yes, tonight was the first of six nights as a Volunteer with the Read Aloud Program (RAP) by Read Aloud America (RAA) in Waikoloa. What a great way to spend an evening!
Our RAA Parent Trainer/Presenter at Waikoloa Elementary, Jed Gaines, expertly gave a short introduction for the program and explained that there is just one thing the students “had” to do tonight and that was “Have Fun”!
There were no tests, and they were not expected to write anything. They were to Have Fun! Mr. Gaines did ask fun questions and handed out fun prizes to get the initial interest of the children and the parents who brought them.
After the introduction and explanation of what RAP means, the reading and escort (I am an escort) volunteers gathered out on the walkway with our signs for the grade/age group that we are waiting to take to their classroom.
Then the children are released, one grade or age group at a time to find the escort holding the sign for their group or grade. All students for our group present…check…off to our assigned classroom.
The parents remain in the presentation room (in this case, the cafeteria) to learn more about this great program which encourages families to turn off the TV and spend more time together … yep, you guessed it … Reading Aloud!
There are lists of suggested books for each age group and a book exchange where the children can bring their own books that they have either out grown or have grown tired of and trade them for an appropriate “new to them” book to take home in its place.
The children were bundles of energy as they sat as quietly as they could with the occasional “eeeewww” or “woooowww” while the Reading Volunteer read two short books. Then we had a drawing for one student for a book to take home. Their name tags served as the drawing entry and they were excited as we got them all collected.
The name was drawn and the child got their book while all the other children laughed, commented on the book; and congratulated the winner. Then, we lined up and went back as a group to the presentation room for dinner and door prizes along with more questions and prizes to reinforce how fun reading as a family can be!
I am signed up for five more nights like this – every other week, once a week! Watching the sheer energy of the children and their excitement while having a great time and not getting tested was invigorating.
Is there truly no way to bottle and market that energy? 😀
Hi, I read this blog when it came on my e-mail a couple of days ago. I have since been trying to figure out how xanga works. I can’t seem to navigate into any portion although I do have an ID and Password. Oh, Well.
This is a facinating blog. I am so pleased you are volunteering for something like this. The experiences can be delightful or horrorendous but always worthwhile. I love your last statement!!! How long have adults been crying out that very statement?
The day I read this blog, Aoriahia was here and we went to the La Grande Celebration “Crossing the Blues.’ Right Writers had a table in the writer’s section in the new public library. Riah and I manned the table for a couple of hours then it was time to take to the mic. I read first. Then several other writers read what they had created. A woman from Baker came over to our table and asked me to read her presentation because she was having trouble with her eyes and she liked the way I read mine over the mic. So I ended up being the first one to read and the last one to read. It was a fun time. The article I chose to read is printed in our new book, “God Working Wonders.” I read the one about the time our five year old Aoriahia, (now nine years old.) took pictures with my little PenCam. One of her pictures was chosen by the writers to be published in our book. It is called, “PEACE.” It was so wonderful that she was there with me. She came up to the mic with me and stood with me while I read the article about her. We were so glad it rained the day before because it wasn’t possible to harvest wheat until it dried out. Therefore we were able to go into town.
Your blog is well written and energetic. I so enjoyed reading it. (several times.) Luv, M
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