COMMUNITY LITERACY SCAVENGER HUNT
Each week has a theme (letters, shapes, colors, etc.). Children walk around the neighborhood to identify things, people or places that start with the first letter related to the theme. Students read books for the week based on the theme and students will use their new vocabulary words to write a short story. For older students, the activity is adapted to include a brief presentation about how to write poetry or song lyrics. The students are asked to use the things, people or places that start with the first letter of the theme to write a poem or song lyrics.

THEMED READ-A-THONS (T.I.G.E.R., Mommie & Me)
The goal of the read-a-thon may be how many books a child reads with his/her parents, how many books a child reads about animals or reading a goal of 100 books for the month. Children are encouraged to read at school, at home and in the community for a month. To encourage participation, students are paired to read during the 90 minute reading block, after school or during meal times. This read-a-thon may also consist of a kick off celebration and an awards ceremony that recognizes students for participating.

ANIMAL DAYS
An animal day is a day (or part of a day) to promote and celebrate reading, with guest readers and related activities around an animal theme:
BEAR – Be Excited About Reading
TIGER – Together In Getting Everyone Reading
LION – Literacy In Our Neighborhood
OWL – Our World of Literacy
KOALA – Keeping Our Adventures in Literacy Alive
ELEPHANT – Emphasizing Literacy in Every Person’s Home And Neighborhood
  Together
DEER – Drop Everything and Enjoy Reading
TURTLE – Teaming Up Readers Toward Literacy Excellence
BUTTERFLY – Books Use Them To Enjoy Reading and FLY

BOOKS AND BREAKFASTS
Morning workshops are held with parents to provide them with practical tips on helping their children become strong readers. Topics include: Reading At Home, Reading On the Road, Books in Your Native Language, Comics and Magazines and Connecting Books to Television.

FAMILY LITERACY NIGHTS
These events include guest readers and literacy games/activities and take place at a location such as a local restaurant, school or business.

PARENTS’ BOOK CLUB
The goal of the book club is to teach parents how to read and discuss books with their children. A reading list for kindergarten to third grade parents is provided. The parents meet weekly first to discuss what literacy is and its key role in their children’s educational success. Regularly they review a book from the list.

100% ATTENDANCE CELEBRATION
Parents of children kindergarten to third grades who have 100% school attendance are invited to a special breakfast to celebrate their role in their child’s school success. Getting their child to school daily is the first level of parent involvement.

PARENT CONVERSATIONS
Peer led conversations are held in which parents share everyday experiences and build a support network for parents on how to build their child’s literacy skills.

READING PARTNER PROGRAMS

CROSS AGE READING PROGRAM
This is a reading buddy program that involves older children reading to younger children

TEEN TUTOR READING PARTNER PROGRAM
Teens from middle and high schools read weekly with elementary school children, building the literacy skills of both students and providing an opportunity for meaningful community service to the teens. Over 1,900 students were involved in 48 programs in the 2005-2006 school year. In the fall of 2004, LINC received a Youth in Action Award for its Teen Tutor Reading Partner Program in Brooklyn.

INTERGENERATIONAL READING PARTNER PROGRAM
This is a reading buddy program that involves senior citizens reading to younger children.

PAJAMA NIGHTS
Parents read bedtime stories to children individually, guest readers read bedtime stories to children in a large group, and children act out selected bedtime stories.

Literacy Update NEWSLETTERS