Volunteer Opportunity - ZEFRANK.COM

Klynne · 12-09-2003, 11:11 PM

Have any of you heard of the "HOST" program? I am not sure if it is a state or federal program. At any rate, you can volunteer an hour a week, or more if you want, to read with school children in inner city schools. Basically, these kids come from poor families, and don't have access to books at home, and their parents often work a couple of jobs and don't have a lot of time to spend one on one time with them. I have been reading with a kid for about 5 weeks now. Today, we had a break through. For the first few weeks, this kid would not even look me in the eye. He talked to me more today then he has in the past five weeks. He walked into the room smiling today, and showed me a book that he has been reading on his own. He is in the 5th grade, but reading at the 4th grade level. But, he is improving, and I am just thrilled he is reading on his own.

The book he is reading on his own is the second one in the Harry Potter series. He told me he asked his parents for the rest of the books for Christmas (he comes from a family of 15). I would buy them for him as a Christmas present, but don't want to duplicate his parents efforts. My Dad told me just to wait to see if he gets them, and if he doesn't, buy the next book in the series and tell him that it is my copy that he can borrow. In the mean time, I have no idea what to buy an 11 year old boy as a gift. Any ideas? Sorry to go on and on, but I am just excited that this kid wants to read.

Red Princess · 12-09-2003, 11:21 PM

my mom volunteers at an elementary school, she reads with second graders.
what about a different book for yur 5th grader?

Klynne · 12-09-2003, 11:29 PM

That is an excellent idea. I will just have to find something along the same venue as Harry Potter. This kid seems to be into reading about monsters or mythical creatures... Should do some research on google.

catbelly · 12-09-2003, 11:31 PM

Klynne, you rock! That is an awesome story. When I think of kids who grow up not having resources it makes me so sad.

I recently re-read the Isis trilogy... uh, gah I can't remember who wrote it. Darn swiss cheese memory. I think it is about the same reading level as Harry P, although the protagonists in the stories are mid-teen years. "Keeper of the Isis Light" is the first book in the trilogy.

review of "keeper of the isis light"

Hm. Okay this review says grades 9 to 12, which surprises me, but I am old so maybe I've just forgotten what it's like to be 10. Or it could be that I was lucky and read like a mad-ass very early. Anyway.

I like these books because they touch on social issues like prejudice without being too heavy-handed.

And again... I am really impressed that you do work like that, miz Klynne. It's inspiring!

Red Princess · 12-09-2003, 11:37 PM

do kids still read "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" books? C.S. Lewis.

maychorian · 12-09-2003, 11:39 PM

For something kind of like Harry Potter, try The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper. I think the first book is Over Water, Under Stone, but The Dark Is Rising (second book) has a very Potter-like main character, meaning he's eleven years old and imbued with amazing gifts.

Klynne · 12-09-2003, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Red Princess
do kids still read "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" books? C.S. Lewis.

OMG Red, those were my favorites, I read them all. I will just have to see if these books would be on his level. I read them (I think when I was in the fifth grade) all and just adored them.

malina · 12-09-2003, 11:42 PM

my son really liked the 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' books by Lemony Snicket

Red Princess · 12-09-2003, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Klynne
OMG Red, those were my favorites, I read them all. I will just have to see if these books would be on his level. I read them (I think when I was in the fifth grade) all and just adored them.

i was also fond of "A Wrinkle in Time" Madelaine L'Engle

Klynne · 12-09-2003, 11:48 PM

Thank you for all of your reading suggestions. I will probably get him some small little toy, and a book which one of you suggested.

Klynne · 12-09-2003, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Red Princess
i was also fond of "A Wrinkle in Time" Madelaine L'Engle

Red,

That is just too strange, I read all of her stuff too. As a kid I was a bookworm. Guess I still am as an adult.

Oh another idea, what about "James and the Giant Peach?"

catbelly · 12-10-2003, 12:03 AM

Hey! That was James... Charlie was the Chocolate Factory

Roald Dahl is one of my favourite, favourite people. I have a book of his short stories for kids -- maybe that would be a good one? It has "Danny Champion of the World" and everything.

Yah I loved "A Wrinkle in Time" - the character of Meg was one that I totally identified with, ugly duckling and all that. Plus, my younger brother was small as a child and he is freakishly smart.

I had an awesome boxed set ... I want to say it was the Nebula award winners, but that's not right. It was a something-or-other award winners. "A Wrinkle in Time" was one of them.

JesusTitties · 12-10-2003, 02:13 AM

a guy walks into a butcher shop and says hey do you have a sheeps head?
and the butcher says no its just a really tight perm

Magpie · 12-10-2003, 02:44 AM

"Phantom Tollbooth" ? How about an Itty Bitty Book Light...my kids have found more uses for those things than you can imagine! Plus they LOVE reading in bed (other lights out) with it too. Oh...give him extra batteries!

Audreyvgs · 12-10-2003, 03:48 PM

Im readin' the Series of Unfortunate Events to the Bink, I think it's a little over his head, but he's really into it, and I get at least one yuk for myself in each book. Binks vocabulary is good enough to get it, tho, and he's beggin for em every night, thank gads there's 11.

12-09-2003, 11:11 PM	#1
Klynne monkey Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 4,543	Volunteer Opportunity Have any of you heard of the "HOST" program? I am not sure if it is a state or federal program. At any rate, you can volunteer an hour a week, or more if you want, to read with school children in inner city schools. Basically, these kids come from poor families, and don't have access to books at home, and their parents often work a couple of jobs and don't have a lot of time to spend one on one time with them. I have been reading with a kid for about 5 weeks now. Today, we had a break through. For the first few weeks, this kid would not even look me in the eye. He talked to me more today then he has in the past five weeks. He walked into the room smiling today, and showed me a book that he has been reading on his own. He is in the 5th grade, but reading at the 4th grade level. But, he is improving, and I am just thrilled he is reading on his own. The book he is reading on his own is the second one in the Harry Potter series. He told me he asked his parents for the rest of the books for Christmas (he comes from a family of 15). I would buy them for him as a Christmas present, but don't want to duplicate his parents efforts. My Dad told me just to wait to see if he gets them, and if he doesn't, buy the next book in the series and tell him that it is my copy that he can borrow. In the mean time, I have no idea what to buy an 11 year old boy as a gift. Any ideas? Sorry to go on and on, but I am just excited that this kid wants to read.

12-09-2003, 11:21 PM	#2
Red Princess thread soiler Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: san diego Posts: 4,810	my mom volunteers at an elementary school, she reads with second graders. what about a different book for yur 5th grader? __________________ snarky peep

12-09-2003, 11:37 PM	#5
Red Princess thread soiler Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: san diego Posts: 4,810	do kids still read "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" books? C.S. Lewis. __________________ snarky peep

12-09-2003, 11:39 PM	#6
maychorian always somewhere else Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: still somewhere else Posts: 715	For something kind of like Harry Potter, try The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper. I think the first book is Over Water, Under Stone, but The Dark Is Rising (second book) has a very Potter-like main character, meaning he's eleven years old and imbued with amazing gifts. __________________ Jamaica me crazy!

12-10-2003, 02:44 AM	#14
Magpie Wishing on a pickle. Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: One mile up Posts: 3,082	"Phantom Tollbooth" ? How about an Itty Bitty Book Light...my kids have found more uses for those things than you can imagine! Plus they LOVE reading in bed (other lights out) with it too. Oh...give him extra batteries! __________________ Sometimes evil drives a mini van.

12-09-2003, 11:29 PM	#3
Klynne monkey Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 4,543	That is an excellent idea. I will just have to find something along the same venue as Harry Potter. This kid seems to be into reading about monsters or mythical creatures... Should do some research on google.

12-09-2003, 11:31 PM	#4
catbelly monkey Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: the north Posts: 1,757	Klynne, you rock! That is an awesome story. When I think of kids who grow up not having resources it makes me so sad. I recently re-read the Isis trilogy... uh, gah I can't remember who wrote it. Darn swiss cheese memory. I think it is about the same reading level as Harry P, although the protagonists in the stories are mid-teen years. "Keeper of the Isis Light" is the first book in the trilogy. review of "keeper of the isis light" Hm. Okay this review says grades 9 to 12, which surprises me, but I am old so maybe I've just forgotten what it's like to be 10. Or it could be that I was lucky and read like a mad-ass very early. Anyway. I like these books because they touch on social issues like prejudice without being too heavy-handed. And again... I am really impressed that you do work like that, miz Klynne. It's inspiring!

12-09-2003, 11:42 PM	#8
malina leaving Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: up on the hill Posts: 6,013	my son really liked the 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' books by Lemony Snicket

12-09-2003, 11:48 PM	#10
Klynne monkey Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 4,543	Thank you for all of your reading suggestions. I will probably get him some small little toy, and a book which one of you suggested.

12-10-2003, 12:03 AM	#12
catbelly monkey Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: the north Posts: 1,757	Hey! That was James... Charlie was the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl is one of my favourite, favourite people. I have a book of his short stories for kids -- maybe that would be a good one? It has "Danny Champion of the World" and everything. Yah I loved "A Wrinkle in Time" - the character of Meg was one that I totally identified with, ugly duckling and all that. Plus, my younger brother was small as a child and he is freakishly smart. I had an awesome boxed set ... I want to say it was the Nebula award winners, but that's not right. It was a something-or-other award winners. "A Wrinkle in Time" was one of them.

12-10-2003, 02:13 AM	#13
JesusTitties ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 3,124	a guy walks into a butcher shop and says hey do you have a sheeps head? and the butcher says no its just a really tight perm

12-10-2003, 03:48 PM	#15
Audreyvgs Blue's Clues Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: on Yur Last Nerve, huh? Posts: 5,412	Im readin' the Series of Unfortunate Events to the Bink, I think it's a little over his head, but he's really into it, and I get at least one yuk for myself in each book. Binks vocabulary is good enough to get it, tho, and he's beggin for em every night, thank gads there's 11.

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