When students joining Operation:Outreach at Gulf Coast High were asked what they’d like to do to help promote literacy, the response was unanimous: Read with children.
So, a crew of club members’ planned their first field trip – a special visit to first graders at the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County.
Members of Operation Outreach Gulf Coast High School at the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County. The students gave over 80 first graders a complimentary children’s book “Catie the Copycat” thanks to its author Juliana Howard. Photo courtesy of K is for Kids
The students would be distributing more than 80 complimentary copies of “Catie the Copycat” to the children at the Club – thanks to children’s book author Juliana Howard. The book is beautifully illustrated by Juliana’s granddaughter Sophia Heymans and is a story about a young girl who so wants to fit in with her friends that she copies what they do. The story’s message is as relevant to teens and grown-ups as to children: Find out who you are and be that person!
The team of six teens assembled after school at K is for Kids’ warehouse room at Cypress Self Storage to gather the books. They would be not only donating books to each child but to the teachers’ classroom libraries, too.
K is for Kids’ warehouse rooms at Cypress Self Storage
Next stop was the local Starbucks with K is for Kids founder Karen Clawson to prepare for the event – engaging the kids in conversations after reading about the story would be a big part of the fun.
Photo courtesy of K is for Kids
The teens warmed up their storytelling voices and practiced reading the story aloud with good enunciation and excitement. Careful pacing and projection of the voice when reading is important when reading to young children, especially with youngsters from families where English is not the first language spoken.
Photo courtesy of Boys & Girls Club of Collier County
A pair of students visited each first grade classroom, handing each child their new book, so they could read along with the story.
Photo courtesy of Boys & Girls Club of Collier County
Photo courtesy of Boys & Girls Club of Collier County
Photo courtesy of Boys & Girls Club of Collier County staff
Photo courtesy of Boys & Girls Club of Collier County staff
Photo courtesy of Boys & Girls Club of Collier County staff
Questions were asked about the story and the kids were always keen to answer them.
Photo of event courtesy of Boys & Girls Club of Collier County.
Afterwards they talked about words the children didn’t know, like “dusk”, “fragrance” and “regal”.
Photo courtesy of Boys & Girls Club of Collier County
Photo courtesy of Boys & Girls Club of Collier County
Photo courtesy of Boys & Girls Club of Collier County
Photo courtesy of K is for Kids
Games such as “Simon Says” and lots of laughter and conversation followed as the fellowship came to a close.
Photo courtesy of K is for Kids
Parting was difficult for both teens and kids – group hugs, invitations to return and big smiles filled the rooms as the students from Operation:Outreach departed, buoyed by the experience and asking when they could come back to visit the kids again.