Tag Archives: reading

Local award-winning author Susie Finkbeiner gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the literary world

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Local author, Susie Finkbeiner, shared literary insights with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed on WKTV Journal Soundbites (Courtesy, WKTV)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


(Courtesy, Susie Finkbeiner)

Award-winning local author Susie Finkbeiner wrote her first novel in secret.

“I would sneak out and go to a coffee shop and write for an hour,” said Finkbeiner. “Nobody knew I was writing a novel. Not even my husband.”

Since that first novel, Finkbeiner has written several more, with awards following close behind.

Two-time winner of the Michigan Notable Book Award, a Christy Award Nominee and Selah Award Finalist, Finkbeiner is making waves in the historical fiction genre.

Stories = Love

The Wyoming author is more thrilled to have the opportunity to be a full-time storyteller than she is by awards.

“My family is very story-centric,” said Finkbeiner. “My dad is also a novelist, and he would always tell us stories. My mom would read to us all the time, and do the voices of the characters.”

One of Finkbeiner’s earliest memories is of her big sister reading a story to her.

“When [my siblings] had to practice reading, my mom would send them to read to me,” said Finkbeiner with a laugh. “My big sister reading a story to me, I felt very loved.

“That is the feeling I associate with that memory. So in my mind, sharing stories equates to sharing love.”

That value of books and stories is something Finkbeiner tries to instill in her own children.

Writing in the margins

Finkbeiner was writing plays for a local church and blogging snippets about life when a friend said she should write a novel.

At first, the idea seemed crazy to Finkbeiner. Then… “That little seed of a thought kept growing.”

Chasing after three young children and being employed didn’t leave a lot of time for writing. That time was carved out in quiet moments at coffee shops and while her children were sleeping.

Finkbeiner’s first novel began in a coffee shop (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“I would write when they were napping, I would write when they went to bed,” said Finkbeiner. “I really wrote in those margins.”

After finishing the first draft, Finkbeiner thought it might have some potential.

“I never knew if it would go anywhere,” said Finkbeiner. “I got a lot of rejections.”

After several of those rejections, Finkbeiner decided to change course for bit.

What did I get myself into…?

Finkbeiner posted on Facebook, committing to writing as many short stories as she was given ideas for during the month of September.

“I thought I would get three or four,” Finkbeiner said. “I got 32.”

With each story 1,500 words or less, the process taught Finkbeiner how to get to the point, characterization, and about working toward a deadline.

“It stretched me,” said Finkbeiner. “They would paint me in a corner and I had to find my way out. I learned so much.”

But Finkbeiner has no plans to repeat that challenge.

“I don’t know if I could ever do it again. Now that I write such long pieces, 1,500 words sounds like a sprint.”

While Finkbeiner was posting 32 stories in 30 days, an editor was paying attention. Shortly after that short story challenge, Finkbeiner received a request for her novel.

The rest, as the saying goes, is history.

History? No, thank you!

While Finkbeiner’s novels are centered around historic events and times, it took some time for her to embrace the genre.

“My first two novels were contemporary because I didn’t think I could write historical fiction,” said Finkbeiner. “It seemed too daunting to me. In my mind, historical fiction was the 1700s, 1800s, the Civil War. I just didn’t want to reach back that far, so I thought [that genre] wouldn’t be for me.”

Another deterrent was that most historical fiction Finkbeiner saw was centered around romance – a genre she was not comfortable writing.

After reading a novel set in the 1930s, however, Finkbeiner realized she could write a Depression Era book.

“It worked,” said Finkbeiner. “And I realized how much I love the research. The 20th Century is fascinating. So much happened in this very condensed amount of time. And the research is a lot easier to access.”

The author especially enjoys talking to people who have lived experience in certain time periods.

“My dad wrote his memoirs of his time in Vietnam for me to use as research,” said Finkbeiner. “[I talked] to my mom about how she straightened her hair. It helps me feel connected to my grandparents and my parents in a way that I don’t know that I could otherwise.

“It makes me feel empathy for them. You grow to understand what they lived through.”

Anything is possible

“The ideas come in different ways every time,” said Finkbeiner. “It’s the most exciting part.”

The All-American, Finbeiner’s latest release, was inspired by two separate books that she read simultaneously.

“One was about [the author’s] father being accused of being a Communist, and the other was about women playing baseball,” said Finkbeiner. “Then I realized that the timelines met up between those two historical events.

“What’s less American than being accused of being a Communist, and what’s more American than baseball? What would happen if I put those two together?”

Written over two years, The All-American is a coming-of-age novel about two sisters in the 1950s. Finkbeiner’s relatable characters create a moving novel that inspires readers to dream big and believe anything is possible.

A literary legacy

The Library of Michigan Association hailed The All-American as one of 2024’s Michigan Notable Books.

(Courtesy photo)

Finkbeiner considers the award a great honor.

“I’ve been the recipient twice, which feels like getting struck by lightning twice – in a good way,” said Finkbeiner. “I think that one is so important to me because I love being a Michigander.”

That the recognition came from the Library of Michigan, and knowing she is part of the literary legacy of Michigan, is also meaningful to Finkbeiner.

“The library, throughout my life, it’s been one of those constant presences,” Finkbeiner said. “Sometimes during difficult times in childhood, I would go to the library and grab some books. Being honored by the library that made me who I am, it’s encouragement to keep going.”

Messages & Misconceptions

The misconception of writers not having contact with people is damaging, said Finkbeiner.

“I’m a noisy introvert,” said Finkbeiner. “I love public speaking. My favorite speaking events are at libraries because you get to meet readers. We really need to know who our readers are, because they are who we’re serving.”

Author Susie Finkbeiner on WKTV Journal Soundbites (Courtesy, WKTV)

“My novels aren’t just happy and fluffy,” Finkbeiner continued. “Things happen to the people in them. But through it, I always want the reader to know there is hope, that we are not left to despair. We all suffer, we all struggle, but there’s hope in the people around us, in faith, in the way that we can overcome.”

Any messages in Finkbeiner’s novels come organically, and tend to surprise her.

“That’s the beauty of writing and telling stories. Once it’s out there, it’s not mine anymore. It’s the reader’s. That is another reason why I like to meet readers; they always have insights that I would not have thought of.”

Words of wisdom

“There is a lot of rejection,” Finkbeiner said in advice to other writers. “When those rejections come, don’t quit. Sometimes it means it’s provoking them in a way that makes them uncomfortable. That can be good, because they will think about it later.”

Finkbeiner also gives writers permission to not write every day.

Giving your mind rest is necessary for creativity (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“You’ve got to let your mind rest,” said Finkbeiner. “You’ve got to let it wander. You’ve got to take in other art. Writing every day is not good for us. It’s too much hustle, and I don’t think art comes out of hustle.”

No guilt here!

“To readers, I would say that there is no guilty pleasure in reading,” said Finkbeiner. “Don’t let anyone judge you for it. If you like to read many things, go ahead. That’s what the library is there for. And if you don’t like a book, stop reading it.”

Next up: Joy of writing

Finkbeiner is busy writing a novel that is not currently under contract.

“I don’t have a deadline, so I feel a kind of freedom and space to breathe a little bit,” said Finkbeiner, adding that she is simply enjoying the process of writing right now.

Learn more about Susie Finkbeiner and her novels by clicking here.

Community reading initiative, “On the Same Page,” announced by Kent District Library

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(Courtesy, KDL)

By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org

Kent District Library (KDL) is encouraging adults to get “On the Same Page” with reading. KDL is introducing a new initiative to bring people together around one book, Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. 

“At KDL, we love reading and we love people, and On the Same Page will bring two of our favorite things together,” said Hennie Vaandrager, Programming and Outreach Manager at KDL. “Many people feel lonely, and this program is designed to provide connection and enjoyment.”

On the Same Page will include numerous events around Kent County. There will be book discussions, programs featuring themes in the book, and a Meet the Author event at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, April 24 at the Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin University.

The author event will also feature special guest Kevin Wilson, author of Now is Not the Time to Panic.

Free registration for the Author Event will be required and will open on March 15. To sign up for updates and reminders, visit kdl.org/samepage.

Compelling storytelling and rich characters

Ann Patchett is a celebrated American author. Known for her compelling storytelling and rich character development, Patchett has received critical acclaim for novels such as Bel Canto and Commonwealth. With numerous literary awards and a reputation for thought-provoking narratives, she has made a significant impact on contemporary fiction.

Tom Lake has been described as both “quiet and reassuring” (New York Times) and “poignant and reflective” (Kirkus Reviews). It is a beautiful and moving novel about family, love and growing up that takes place on a cherry farm in Traverse City, MI during 2020.

How you can read Tom Lake

Because Tom Lake is now the book that everyone is reading, KDL has purchased many copies to keep the hold times as short as possible.

KDL has 670 regular print copies, 50 large print, 76 eBooks and 61 audiobooks in its collection. Tom Lake and Now is Not the Time to Panic are also available through KDL’s Talking Book and Braille Center in both audio and Braille formats.

On the Same Page participants should also sign up for KDL’s Let It Snow Winter Reading Club, which runs from Dec. 1 – Feb. 29.

(Courtesy, KDL)

Adults and teens (grades 6 and up) who read six books in various categories will receive a collectible mug. One of the categories is “Ann Patchett Title.” Those who read an additional four books will be entered to win a Kindle Scribe. Learn more at kdl.org/snow.

On the Same Page is offered in partnership with Calvin University’s January Series. To learn more, visit kdl.org/samepage.

Local organization partners with Woodland Mall to encourage reading

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

This year’s One Book, One County featured book is “The Caring Me I Want to Be!” (WKTV)

A local organization and Woodland Mall have partnered to promote reading through the One Book, One County initiative.

“Meeting families where they are has always been important to us,” said Family Futures Partnership Coordinator Susi Alonso. “Our partnership with the Woodland Mall is allowing us to better serve our Kent County families by being present somewhere they can easily access us.”

The nonprofit Family Futures will be distributing the book “The Caring Me I Want to Be” by Mary DiPalermo on select Fridays and Saturdays in June. There is a limited supply of the books.

The One County, One Book initiative was kicked off by the Great Start Parent Coalition’s Nurturing Parent Power Workshop at the end of March. The goal of the initiative is to distribute 9,000 books to families.

Along with the book, the campaign provided a calendar of activities parents could use to engage their children based on the book such as writing a letter to a friend telling them why you like them or going outside and counting all the different signs of spring. The calendar will be available during the book distributions at Woodland Mall.

More than 20 local organizations participated in the program to help distribute the books, which includes Family Futures, a nonprofit that works to create communities in which all children are supported to achieve their full potential. The organization does this by supporting families with children ages 0-5. Family Futures works with parents to understand their children’s development, supporting them every step of the way and connecting them to resources when needed.

Members of the One Book, One County campaign hold up this year’s selection. (WKTV)

Family Futures and Woodland Mall have been working together since April. Family Futures has been tabling at different locations throughout the mall and handing out sensory bottles, toys, and connecting families to Connections and Healthy Families Kent County, it’s two main programs. Family Futures was also the recipient of a $1,000 donation from the Woodland Mall from a social media fundraising effort.

“We are fortunate to have an ongoing partnership with Family Futures, an organization that provides great programming for families,” said Woodland Mall/PREIT Interim Senior Marketing Director Mike Ross. “We are thankful that they are able to provide experiences for our shoppers and we love hearing the laughter and seeing the smiles from the children in the mall when they are engaging with the families.”

Reading program designed to get parents and children reading

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Video by WKTV volunteer Von Duff.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Recognizing that reading needs to be a focus year around, the Great Start Parent Coalition’s Nurturing Parent Power Workshop announced its One Book, One County initiative on the last day of the national March is Reading Month campaign.

“One County, One Book will distribute 9,000 books to families, particular families that are living in neighborhoods that are book desserts,” said Chana Edmond-Verley, the chief executive officer for Vibrant Futures and who also the co-chair of the Nurturing Parent Power Workshop.

“In addition, it is more than a book distribution,” Edmond-Verley said. “We have reading strategy kits so parents will know the strategies that they need to deliver this powerful book to their child.”

Started in 2016, the Nurturing Parent Power Workshop is part of the Great Start Collaborative of Kent County, which works to ensure that all children, from birth to age eight, especially those in highest need areas, have access to high-quality early learning and development programs and enter kindergarten prepared for success.

Members of the One Book, One County campaign hold up this year’s selection. (WKTV)

The Nurturing Parent Power Workshop is a group of parent leaders, systems influencers, and decision makers who work to cultivate the power of parents in helping their children succeed.

“Our goal is to provide early reading strategies in Kent County to get all families reading to their children and all children reading by the end of second grade,” Edmond-Verley said.

From the group came the Success Starts Early Basics which provides tips and information on how parents advocate for their children’s success. Edmond-Verley said it was the Nurturing Parent Power Workshop who came up with the idea for the One book, One County campaign.

The book selection for the campaign is Mary DiPalermo’s “The Caring Me I Want to Be!” because it offers engaging story illustrations, easy connections to real life, allows for problem solving, rhyming, and promotes brainstorming emotions, according to literature that was handed out.

Along with the book, the campaign will provide a calendar of activities parents can use to engage their child based on the book such as writing a letter to a friend telling them why you like them or going outside and counting all the different signs of spring.

A third component will be up to 7,000 licenses for a digital parent coach that will send daily activities straight to a parent’s phone.

“The digital parent coach has been a great tool,” said Nicole Notraio-Risk, who is a co-chair of the Nurturing Parent Power Workgroup. “You can customize the program based on your child’s age and mental ability and the program provides you with a daily routine of fun games and activities that you could do with your child.”

Research shows that children who are read to 20 minutes a day and are repeatedly exposed to books from birth exhibit strong reading abilities. Edmond-Verley said parents are key in helping students achieve.


“We are responding by equipping parents with the tools that they can use to assure that their children are successful,” she said.

More than 20 local organizations such as the Early Learning Neighborhood Collobatibes, Bright Beginnings, Head Start, Kent ISD, Vibrant Futures, and the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, are participating in the program. Those interested in learning more about the One Book, One County program can reach out to those organizations or visit www.successstartsearly.org. 

Used book sale this Saturday at KDL Wyoming branch

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By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Calling all book lovers, there will be a used book sale this Saturday at the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW.

The sale will take place from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the library. An array of titles will be available. The $3 a bag of books will start at 2 p.m.

The event is hosted by the Friends of the Wyoming Library.

‘Where’s Curi’ latest summer adventure by Kent District Library

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By Katie Zuidema
Kent District Library

As part of its Summer Wonder program, Kent District Library has teamed up with Kent County Parks to present “Where’s Curi?” Go on an outdoor scavenger hunt through local parks to find Curi, KDL’s Summer Wonder mascot.



Where’s Curi? is a fun opportunity to get outdoors and explore and learn this summer! Use clues to find Curi in five park sites throughout the county — Lepard Preserve in Caledonia, Palmer Park in Wyoming, Pickerel Lake Park in Rockford, Wahlfield Park in Comstock Park and Millennium Park in Walker.

Curi is on an adventure. Can you figure out where Curi is?

To get started, pick up a Summer Wonder workbook at any KDL branch or visit kdl.org/findcuri. Each time someone finds Curi and answers the coordinating question, they will be entered to win an outdoor fun basket!

“The Kent County Parks Department is so pleased to be partnering with KDL on this fantastic program,” said Cori VanderHart, Parks Operations Supervisor for Kent County Parks. “We can’t wait to be part of your summer adventure!”

KDL is the perfect place to keep summer learning alive and growing. Summer Wonder is the annual summer program from Kent District Library that helps prevent the “summer slide” that students often experience when they’re not in school. 

Summer Wonder includes activities such as reading challenges, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) projects and entertainment for families and individuals of all ages. Summer Wonder is free and includes adventures and prizes for all ages. Visit kdl.org/summer for more information.

Kent District Library presents Summer Wonder

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming,

By Katie Zuidema
Kent District Library

This year, Kent District Library will take participants on a Summer Wonder journey of reading, learning and exploring through the great outdoors right here in Kent County. KDL has teamed up with Kent County Parks to bring patrons a spectacular summer of outdoor discovery, scavenger hunts, STEAM activities and lots of fun for everyone.

Participate in Summer Wonder by picking up a Summer Wonder Workbook at any KDL branch or signing up online at kdl.beanstack.org. It’s free and includes adventures and prizes for all ages. KDL is the perfect place to keep summer learning alive and growing.

“Summer Wonder is back with more outdoor adventures than ever before,” said KDL Branch Programming and Outreach Specialist Kris Vogelar. “If your kids think summer learning is boring, Summer Wonder will certainly prove them wrong!”

Summer Wonder is a great opportunity to limit the “summer slide” that negatively affects learning between the end and start of the traditional school year. Extensive research shows that children involved in summertime reading programs sponsored by public libraries are more likely to maintain their academic skills, and in many cases do better on standardized tests.

For more information, visit kdl.org/summer.

Forget the snow, grab a book for KDL’s annual reading program

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Kent District Library announced that its annual Let It Snow teen and adult reading program kicks off this week.

Adutls and teens, 11 and older, have until March 31 to read a minimum of six books in different categories such as memoirs, modern retellings of classic novels, audiobooks, books to film or books on new worlds. Those who read at least 10 titles will be entered into the Power Reader drawing to win an iPad or a KDL branded winter cap.

“Reading is more important than ever, so our reading program encourages teens and adults to read this winter and earn cool prizes,” said KDL Programming Manager Kip Odell. “KDL librarians created great lists of recommended reading in different genres.”

For example, if you really like audiobooks and want a good laugh, there is a “My Life as a Goddess – A Memoir Through (un)popular Culture” by Branum Guy or Al Roker’s “You Look So Much Better in Person” (True Stories of Absurdity and Success). Perhaps its is a good mystery you seek then try “I Am Still Alive” by Marshall Kate Alice or Charlene Harris’ Aurora Teagarden series made famous from Hallmark, which also fits in the books to film category.

More than 2,200 people completed the Let It Snow 2020 program with organizers hoping to top that number in 2021. 

For more information or to sign up, visit kdl.org/snow. Track your reading progress online using Beanstack or complete and turn in a paper form, available as a printable PDF or at any KDL branch.

School News Network: ‘Tour guides of knowledge’

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Xyonna Porter is an expert author on pigs. (School News Network)

By Erin Albanese
School News Network

While leading an exhibit on frogs, second grader Alex Meyer focused on the facts: They eat bugs. They have teeth on their upper jaws  (but toads are toothless). Poisonous ones are colorful.

Kalen Lee shares information about snakes. (School News Network)

Alex indicated how he found interesting information within several nonfiction books during his time spent as a researcher. “My teacher had me put sticky notes in books,” he said.

Alex and his classmates at Oriole Park Elementary School spent a recent morning as mini-experts, presenting information in the multi-purpose room turned nonfiction museum. The event was attended by parents, teachers and district administrators. The museum served as a celebration to cap off a month-long study by students on topics like hurricanes, tigers, butterflies, horses and birds. 

“There are billions of stars in the Milky Way galaxy,” said second grader Jace Bloomer as he talked about the sky and space.

Said student Amy Hernandez during her presentation: “Hurricanes are bad but cool, and are amazing but dangerous.”

Jace Bloom researched and presented on the sky and space. (School News Network)

Big Ideas and LingoShare your story idea with School News Network

Students of second grade teachers Danielle Terpstra, Kristen Accorsi and Sarah Buys-McKenney created their own nonfiction books, complete with ideas condensed into sections and lingo as well as illustrations and diagrams. Each student used several books for research and to develop their materials.

“Because they had to look over multiple books, they couldn’t just focus on one page, they had to think about their ideas across all of their texts,” Terprsta said.

The teachers use a curriculum called Lucy Calkins Units of Study, which involves a nonfiction unit. Students learn early research skills, like how to access and read nonfiction. The class focused on becoming “tour guides of their knowledge,” McKenney said.

“Our real focus is that they learn to retell and talk about what they know as a topic, not just retell and talk about what happened in a book. It so they can pull in lots of books about the same topic and be able to talk in that expert way about what they wanted to talk about.”

We need our children to love words

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Courtesy MSU Extension

By Tracy Trautner, Michigan State University Extension

 

Young children are naturally drawn to books. When children listen to a book, they are in the beginning stages of learning to read and also hear words that are quite different from the spoken language. According to Reid Lyon from the National Institute of Health and Human Development, approximately 20 to 30 percent of children have difficulties learning to read. In addition, 15 million children do not have access to any sort of reading materials. In order for children to be successful readers, they need daily exposure to books, have caregivers or parents speak to them on a continual basis throughout the day, recognize letters of the alphabet and know the parts of a book including the role of the author and illustrator.

 

Struggling to read can be embarrassing for children, which can lead to unmotivated young students with low self-esteem. In the long term, many of these students end up dropping out of high school in part due to reading difficulties.

 

So what skills does a child need to learn how to read? Reading requires phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency and comprehension skills. Not one of these skills is more important than the other. (For more information, see International Literacy Association.) Learning to read is not a natural process and requires a lot of practice and exposure.

 

There are some common signs to look for when children are struggling to learn to read. These include but are not limited to:

  • Struggling to recite the words they are reading.
  • Starting and stopping frequently when reading.
  • Not really knowing the content they just read when asked about it.
  • Having a difficult time understanding simple directions and following routines.
  • Easily distracted.
  • Their fine motor skills are slow to develop and have difficulty holding a pencil and picking up small objects.
  • Avoiding storytelling and circle time.

If difficulties are determined in kindergarten or first grade and the child receives intervention services at school, many children can learn to read. A child is learning to read until the end of third grade at which time instruction makes a big shift to reading to learn at the beginning of fourth grade. In fourth grade, there is very little reading instruction and children are reading to learn in their classes.

 

Every year, all students in Michigan take an assessment on what they know and are able to do. For children in grades third through eighth, they are given the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, or M-STEP. Only half of Michigan third graders performed at or above in the English Language Arts section of the M-STEP. As a result, Michigan passed a third grade reading law to ensure all children are proficient in reading by the end of third grade. Students that may not pass may have to repeat the third grade. The third grade reading law requires school districts to come up with an improvement plan to help students who are struggling. More information is available at the following resources:

Michigan State University Extension recommends talking and reading to children as much as possible. One of the ways to do this is to describe the colors and features of things you see throughout the day. Pointing out the yellow bananas at the grocery store or the green leaves on the tree, or mentioning the soft shirt they chose to wear to school are all simple ways to increase word exposure for your child. This is called “thinking aloud” when we talk about what we are doing and why. The more words a child hears, the more words they will learn and use. Learning experiences should be engaging and fun to keep a young child’s interest.

 

To learn about the positive impact children and families experience due to MSU Extension programs, read our 2017 impact report: “Preparing young children for success” and “Preparing the future generation for success.” Additional impact reports, highlighting even more ways Michigan 4-H and MSU Extension positively impacted individuals and communities in 2017, can be downloaded from the Michigan 4-H website.

 

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

New York Times bestselling author Wade Rouse reads excerpts from ‘The Charm Bracelet’

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Wage Rouse, author of "The Charm Bracelet" and a resident of the Saugatuck area.
Wade Rouse (pen name, Viola Shipman), author of “The Charm Bracelet” and a resident of the Saugatuck area.

New York Times bestselling author Wade Rouse will appear at a private cocktail fundraiser hosted by the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver, Thursday, Sept. 8 from 6-8 pm.

 

Limited tickets, which are $100 per person, are available for the event; to reserve call 269.857.2399 or go to www.sc4a.org.

 

Guests will enjoy heavy appetizers, drinks, and conversation with Rouse. The author will also read from his newest bestselling novel, The Charm Bracelet, and guests will receive a signed copy to take home.

 

The Charm Bracelet has been chosen three times by the nation’s independent booksellers as an Indie Next Pick and has been called a “Must-Read” by NBC’s Today Show. The novel was inspired by Rouse’s grandmother and he chose his grandmother’s name — Viola Shipman — as a pen name to honor her.

 

charm_bracelet_lgThe Charm Bracelet touches on the importance of family as an elderly lady, Lolly, shares stories about her life with her daughter and granddaughter. She tells tales commemorated through a charm bracelet she received from her mother at a young age.

 

“We’re just delighted to work with Wade for this special event,” said Saugatuck Center for the Arts’ Executive Director Kristin Armstrong. “This is a wonderful opportunity for conversation with him in an intimate setting. Wade is so supportive of the educational work the SCA does with children in our West Michigan communities – we’re honored to host him for the evening.”

 

Proceeds from this event help fund free educational programs for Pre-K through 12th graders at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts.

 

KDL Summer Reading Program opens doors and possibilities

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Alesha (left) and Melissa Steele stay active during Summer Reading Month
Alesha (left) and Melissa Steele stay active during Summer Reading Month

Thirteen-year-old Alesha Steele’s passion for reading not only allowed her to discover new places from the pages of books, but the opportunity to explore her own neighborhood by winning a bike. Now she hopes to help someone else discover a passion for reading as a volunteer for the Kent District Library Summer Reading Program.

 

Throughout the summer, the Kent District Library hosts the most popular reading program of any public library system in Michigan. The program had more than 33,000 participants last year and engages kids, teens and adults with reading activities and prizes.

 

“This is my third year volunteering with the library,” said Alesha. “My first two years I volunteered over in Grandville and now I’m helping out at the Richard L. Root Branch in Kentwood. I help people sign up and I hand out prizes.”

 

While some kids spend the summer months buried in technology, that’s never been the case for Alesha and her 11-year-old sister Melissa, who has her own affinity for books with animals, especially wolves. For both girls, unlocking a new adventure, a new world, is as simple as turning the page.

 

“You can go somewhere in a book, somewhere that isn’t here,” explains Alesha. “It’s always different and exciting.”

 

Melissa is quick to chime in, “You feel like you’re in the world.”

 

Another thing both girls agree on, it’s more satisfying turning a physical page than an electronic one.

 

“We both like real books instead of reading on a Kindle,” said Alesha. “There’s something about being able to actually turn the page and see when you’re getting to the end of the book. The electronic books don’t have that same feel.”

 

Both girls have been traveling to different worlds since they could understand and comprehend how letters make up words, words that become powerful when paired together. The girls gained their love for reading from their mother, Jessica, who has encouraged reading be a staple in her kids’ lives. Jessica home schools all four of her children – Alesha and Melissa are the oldest – and has stressed the benefits of reading.

 

“Reading has always been a big part of my life,” said Jessica. “The benefits of reading are limitless and it broadens vocabulary.”

 

Kentwood LibraryWith those benefits in mind, Jessica and her daughters keep active in the KDL Summer Reading Program. The program is aimed at keeping kids’ minds fresh throughout the summer months. Studies show that students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of the summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of summer vacation. The KDL Summer Reading Program encourages learning while children and teens are away from school.

 

However, knowing the benefits of reading and having a dedicated and encouraging family and library doesn’t necessarily mean the love for reading is going to be a smooth ride.

 

“I used to hate reading,” said Melissa before sharply transitioning, “but now I love it! It helped that I continued to read and that made me become a better reader. The more I read, the easier it was, and it made me realize that I love reading.”

 

Reading has not only taken Alesha and Melissa to new worlds, but it has better prepared them for this one.

 

The KDL Summer Reading Program runs through August 13. Get started now, it’s not too late!

Schools Learn New Ways to Teach Reading

3-bottom, Area Education, Education, , , , ,

High-Performers Provide Good Models

 

School News Network - Reading
Practicing letters on a clear board is just one fun way to learn phonics

By: Erin Albanese — School News Network

 

Collaboration is the way forward, say leaders of West Michigan’s Reading Now Network. Teachers teaching other teachers, more staff with reading expertise, and learning from those whose students are excelling, are all actions the region’s schools are taking to change reading achievement numbers.

 

Dorothy VanderJagt, RNN field study member and director of Teaching & Learning at Kent ISD, said teachers presented best practices at the Fall Institute, share tips on the RNN Twitter feed and “are visiting other schools to dig deeper into those common traits of the high performers.”

 

Educators from the Field Study Team are working directly with schools that need to make big gains, with administrators who set a goal to meet or exceed their peers in two years.

 

The work of Reading Now Network, a collaborative effort to increase reading proficiency involving 100 districts in 13 counties, is well under way. It is paying off in districts like Kelloggsville, where additional staff and new techniques are helping students read in fun, new ways.

 

Source: Reading Now Network
Source: Reading Now Network

Kyle Mayer, an RNN field study member and Ottawa Area ISD assistant superintendent, said the project’s findings have prompted many schools to take action.
“Every day I come to work and I hear about something else happening because of Reading Now Network,” Mayer said.

 

The network was launched in the spring of 2014, examining best instructional practices at five West Michigan elementary schools with high reading success rates in order to implement them region-wide.

 

Schools studied ranged from urban to rural, with varying levels of poverty. They are: Brown Elementary in Byron Center, North Godwin, Lakeshore Elementary in Holland, Coit Creative Arts Academy in Grand Rapids, and Sunfield Elementary in Lakeview Community Schools.

 

Curriculum leaders visited the schools (all of which scored high on third-grade reading MEAP tests), over the course of an eight-month study to identify why they were high performers.

 

Students “arm spell,” a multi-sensory approach that helps them remembers sounds
Students “arm spell,” a multi-sensory approach that helps them remembers sounds

One District’s Response 

 

Tammy Savage, Kelloggsville Public Schools director of instruction, added two new reading instructional specialists this year, partly in response to information she learned at a spring RNN symposium.

 

Specialists Suzanne Schmier and Janna Schneider joined Sue Lathrop this fall to work full-time in the district’s three elementary schools. For the past few years, Lathrop was spread among all three schools, assisted by paraprofessionals.

 

The goal is to create a consistent, structured, very focused reading intervention program for students, Savage said. Teachers are using data to identify students’ needs.

 

Learning how to implement best practices is taking shape in different ways, said Mayer, the field study member. A sold-out event at Kent ISD in November brought together 200 area principals to learn from leaders of the schools originally studied for their reading practices.

 

“Principals can go back and start making immediate changes based on what they learned,” Mayer said.

 

Three schools where educators are not satisfied with reading results have been named “lab” schools. Field study members are working with them on instructional practices to help them improve their results, Mayer said. The schools represent three counties and have varying demographics, including differing income levels and locations.

 

A Peek Into a Classroom

 

In Kelloggsville, reading sessions are a multi-sensory experience. Students see, touch, hear, and even smell and taste the words — when letters double as licorice sticks.

 

During a recent class with Shmier, West Kelloggsville Elementary students acted out what they were reading. A sentence about a girl who hurt her lip had them pouting. Another about flying kites had them pretending to send them soaring.

 

West Kelloggsville Reading Intervention Specialist Suzanne Schmier uses many different methods and tools to teach reading

“That’s fun!” said second-grader Alyssa VanVolkinburg. “It’s fun to make the motions.”
Students wrote letters on plastic tablets, velvet and laminate; they spelled out words with their fingers and while touching different spots on their arms. They talked vividly about what they read.

 

The coaches, all longtime Kelloggsville teachers, were also recently trained in Orton-Gillingham methodologies, which promote multi-sensory learning.

 

Tools Are Available

 

In-depth videos with interviews from administrators, teachers and students taken at the school, are available on the Reading Now Network web site.

 

One thing made clear from the field study was that high-performing schools are “data-driven,” meaning they constantly used test scores and other data to improve instruction – often on a daily basis. Teachers are being trained to easily access data through an Edify software system, which Kent ISD first developed.

 

Enadina Mencho-Vail acts out flying a kite after reading about it
Enadina Mencho-Vail acts out flying a kite after reading about it

Kent ISD received a state grant to develop an early literacy alert and intervention system. The intent is to equip teachers participating in RNN with lots of resources to help students reading below grade level. These resources will be offered free of charge to the schools and service agencies within the Reading Now Network.

 

CONNECT

 

SNN Article on Reading Now Network Symposium

 

Reading Now Network Resources

 

Reading Now Network Website

 

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!