Marcia Stewart's education class works to promote reading in elementary schools
This semester students in Marcia Stewart's course, Books: Passport to Adventure, worked to promote and encourage reading in local elementary schools.
At the beginning of the semester, each student researched a children's literature author, and dressed up as one of the characters created by that author. The students visited David Lipscomb Elementary 
School and Charlotte Park Elementary School (a school with a high percentage of students eligible for free and reduced lunch). During the visit the Lipscomb students told the elementary school students about the author and read the book in which they were featured. The Lipscomb students asked the elementary students about their reading habits, including prior knowledge of the author, their use of the public library and personal ownership of books.
Students also assisted the Book 'Em organization in throwing a birthday party for Dr. Suess at the Northwest YMCA. Students helped greet and register children, work at craft stations, and serve refreshments.
The students are currently serving as book buddies for struggling readers at Charlotte Park Elementary school. Each Lipscomb student has identified a K-6 student for whom they will serve as a "Book Buddy". The student selected is someone who is a reluctant or struggling reader. Students in Dr. Stewart’s class are working with the reading specialist at Charlotte Park to identify students who could use the extra help. At the first meeting, the Book Buddy will conduct an interest inventory to determine what books might be of interest to the K-6 student. On the subsequent meetings, the Book Buddy will select books of potential interest and read those to/with the
K-6 student in an attempt to stimulate interest and motivation in reading. The Book Buddy will meet with the student four times before the end of the semester.
The different elements of the service-learning project for this SALT course are designed to address different learning outcomes of the class, such as selecting quality children's literature and incorporating a variety of ways to respond to the literature. Also, it is important for teachers to have a working knowledge of K-6 quality literature so that they can match readers with books they will enjoy reading. All the SALT activities are designed to motivate students to read. Students who read more become better readers.
The SALT Program
One University Park Drive Nashville, TN 37204-3951
salt@lipscomb.edu | 615. 966.7225 | Ezell 360
About Lipscomb