|
Toledo Library Helps Families with the Third Grade Reading
Guarantee
The Toledo Lucas County
Public Library is presenting a new six-week program at Mott
Branch is designed to help parents, caregivers and children
alike in preparation for the Third Grade Reading Guarantee
testing, a requirement for advancing to the next grade.
Creating a Village provides
artistic and enrichment activities for children while the
adults build a foundation for helping children succeed with
the test. During the six-week program topics include dealing
with disobedience, parent/teacher relationships, fighting
and aggression and more.
“We need to be a support
system for parents, caregivers and children. Before the
test, everyone needs to be in the right frame of mind, body
and spirit,” Mott Branch Manager Kim Penn said.
The idea started when Penn
and a local school administrator discussed how best to
prepare students for the exam. Penn brought the challenge
back to her team as librarians are experienced in accessing
resources and connecting the community, she said, and
Creating a Village was born.
Each session begins with a
family meal. Then children’s activities emphasize art
enrichment, such as fine art, music, dance and theater to
foster creativity. Participants will also receive a one-hour
course on nutrition each week. For parents, discussion
topics include a mock reading test, healthy bedtime
practices and responding to disobedience.
Creating a Village helps
establish routines for families and confidence for young
students. Building from the premise that test taking is a
learned skill, the program aims to improve area test rates.
About 12 percent of Toledo Public Schools' students
subjected to the Third Grade Reading Guarantee promotion
threshold did not meet the criteria, according to Ohio
Department of Education statistics for the 2017-18 school
year.
In the spirit of community
building, Toledo Public Schools, Ohio State University
Extension, Unison Health, Elev8ted Productions and VCG all
worked with the Library to develop and support the program.
Also joining is motivational speaker Terry Crosby, a 1975
DeVilbiss High School graduate who excelled at basketball
and football, who will discuss successful life and learning
strategies.
Creating a Village takes
place 5 - 7:30 p.m. on Mondays from Sept. 16 through Oct.
21.
Registration is now open.
Those interested can do so online
(http://www.toledolibrary.org/search/programs?q=creating+a+village)
or by calling Mott Branch at 419-259-5230.
|
