Summer Literacy Program Part of Faith
Summer Literacy Part of Faith
Opening the calendar to August reminds us that the return to school is eminent – parents and teachers are busy preparing their children and classrooms for the classic shift in schedule. Although students make many gains during the school year, all parents, especially those of struggling or bilingual students, know that continued efforts must be made in the summer months to maintain the progress achieved during the school year. This year a group of students, pre-school through 8th grade, will find returning to the classroom a bit easier.
Through the combine energies of the Education Department of Elmhurst College and Faith Community United Church of Christ in Bensenville, a Summer Reading Program has been offered, free of charge, twice a week for eight weeks beginning June 4 and concluding August 1, 2013. The lives of more than fifty area children have been enriched though individualized instruction, enhanced skills, and expanded reading enjoyment.
The benefits of the Summer Reading Program for students include:
-Informational and non-fiction reading exploration with the implementation of technology and media (IPads).
-Community-based and family-oriented support with parental involvement
-Comprehensive understanding of literacy: reading, writing, speaking, and listening
-Intervention and/or enrichment curricula offered
-Individualized instruction, averaging 1:4 teacher to student ratios
The Summer Reading Program developed through a conversation between Mark Draper, Assistant Director at the Niebuhr Center for Faith and Action at Elmhurst College, and Rev. Catherine Batten Balk, Pastor and Teacher of Faith Community UCC.
Faith Community UCC, a church formed recently by the uniting of three previous congregations, celebrates and encourages diversity. “We share this welcome every Sunday morning – No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome and wanted here,” reports Rev. Balk. “We want to be part of supporting and encouraging our community children.- of loving our neighbors.”
The Summer Reading Program was developed and administered by Amanda Gerald, a recent graduate of Elmhurst College, Education Major and Certified Reading Instructor. Amanda directed a successful Summer Reading Program in 2012 at a UCC mission church in Berwyn, IL. The Berwyn program was offered again this summer. Raul Ruiz-Ocampo, previous teacher and current student at Chicago Theological Seminary, facilitated the community outreach for both programs.
While the emphasis was mostly on the children, the teachers also benefitted from their experience. All were education majors at Elmhurst College, some entering their student teaching semester while others were recent graduates, and most were reading certified. These new teachers were provided with opportunities to implement and execute mini-lessons, explore self-chosen texts, work with students from diverse backgrounds, and shown the importance of working with school communities, teaching beyond the classroom walls.
Another unexpected but wonderful outcome was an informal gathering of the students' mothers and members of the church to teach each other about the diverse languages and cultures. “We were blessed to share with and learn about our neighbors – enjoying the wonderful diversity of Bensenville and surrounding communities,” reflected Rev. Balk.
The Summer Reading Program will be offered again during June and July of 2014.
Faith Community is envisioning another program related to Math and Science for Fall 2013.
For more information about these programs, please contact:
Rev. Catherine Balk
Faith Community UCC,
192 S. Center St., Bensenville, IL 60106
Phone: 630-766-1141
Email:faithcommunityucc@sbcglobal.net