ARA to Elect New Officers

Members of the ARA Delegates' Assembly will soon be voting on new officers for 2011-2012.  Nominations Committee Chair, Julie Huskey, has announced the following slate:

Parliamentarian - Brandi Wallace and Farrah Wilcox

Historian - Jamie Short and Melisa Rutherford
Secretary - Caroline Schenk (unopposed)

Treasurer- Amy Simpson (unopposed)

Vice President - Kay Calvert (unopposed

Reading by Third Grade is National Priority

By Dr. Angela Kremers, Senior Associate for Education, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation   

Good Night Moon was a nightly ritual in our home while my children were growing up. As much as I enjoyed reading to my children, I waited anxiously and proudly for the day when they began reading to me. Unfortunately, for many children, that day comes much later than it should. Across the nation, two out of every three fourth graders are not reading proficiently according to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).  For children in poverty, the data is even more daunting; four of five fourth graders do not read proficiently.

In 2009, 71% of Arkansas's 4^th graders scored below proficient on the NAEP, ranking Arkansas 35^th in the nation.  Arkansas children, as with kids nationally, who fail to reach these critical milestones are subject to continual achievement gaps in educational attainment risking a future of generational poverty. Research shows that students who read on grade level by the end of third grade are more
successful in school, work, and in life. We must take action now. 

The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation (WRF) is partnering with community stakeholders, community organizers, educators and advocates to launch the Campaign for Grade Level Reading (GLR) in Arkansas. The campaign includes nearly 60 foundations in 27 states.  Through GLR, WRF and its partners are working to:

·         Close the gap in reading achievement that separates many low-income students from their peers;

·         Raise the bar for reading proficiency so that all students are assessed by world-class standards; and

·         Ensure that all children, especially those from low-income families, have an equitable opportunity to meet those standards.

WRF invites you to partner with us and others in this national campaign. Watch for upcoming articles sharing about the state's progress and specific things you can do to help. Educators have an important role to play. As you speak with colleagues across the state, help to share the message that today's readers become tomorrow's leaders and together we will ensure that all students are proficient in reading by the end of third grade. Become part of the national conversation by joining the National GLR Ning!site.

For more information: Contact Dr. Angela Kremers at akremers@wrfoundation.org or visit WRF at http://www.wrfoundation.org

 Author Visit
 

Through SCBWI 

Sponsored by the SCBWI, the Amber Brown Grant,  which was named in memory of Amber's creator, author Paula Danziger, rewards one school with an all expense paid, full day visit by a well respected children's author or illustrator. The chosen school will also receive a $250 stipend to assist in creating this memorable event to celebrate reading, learning, and children's literature and $250 worth of books by the visiting author. Additionally, one runner up school will be selected and rewarded with books valued at $250.00.

 Applicants must fill out the application in its entirety and submit it by March 1st.

Click here for more information about the Amber Brown Grant and other awards offered by SCBWI.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) reminds local school district personnel that they should be incorporating African-American history into the social studies curriculum.  February is Black History Month; this would be an excellent time to emphasize the contributions that Black Americans have made to society and history. 

The ADE web site has an extensive listing of resources for African- American studies, which was compiled by the Black History Task Force and can be accessed at http://www.arkansased.org/educators/curriculum/aah.html. 

In addition, the ADE web site has a link to the African-American History Makers Coloring Book provided by the

Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission. It is available at http://arkansased.org/educators/pdf/kingbk.pdf.

ADMINISTRATOR IN READING AWARD

- Deadline March 1

For an online form click here.  Questions? Contact Debbie Hardwick-Smith at Debbie@arareading.org.

Click here for February's edition of AAEA's The Administrator to see an article about Lewis Villines, ARA's Administrator in Reading recipient for 2010-11.

Association Sponsors Uganda Child

ARA International Project

As an ongoing international project, the Arkansas Reading Association has chosen to sponsor the education of a Uganda child. The $240 sent per year covers the cost of school fees, lunches, uniforms, and supplies. 

ARA has sponsored Simeon Kite, now 13, since he was nine years old. ARA will continue to send support until he graduates. The following is a letter received from Simeon last year:

How are you and your family?  I am okey now days and health.  I likes sports and games.  Now I am thirteen years old.  I think you for my school fees and your love.  I am in primary six.  Our school is nice.  We get enough food.  My best subject is English.  We are in the rainny season.  I am a football player.  I am saved and I pray for you every day.  By the time I left home, my grandmother was okey.  May God bless you.

Simeon is joined by seven other students who are benefitting from sponsorship of local councils, schools or other groups with ARA connections.  These eight students are referred to as the "ARA Kids in Uganda." They are under the Education in Uganda project of the Terri Clark Ministries. 

More Help Needed

One of these students needs a new sponsor.  The local council sponsoring Namanda Sarifa is inactive this year.  Namanda needs a new sponsor or she will not be able to continue in school.  The most recent letter found from Namanda was dated August 2009.  She writes in her own words:

Dear Arkansas Reading Association Councils

I greet you all in the almight name of Jesus Christ.  I thank you for the assistance you've always given me.  I thank you for this nice letter and a nice beautiful photo you sent me.  I have done my pre-mock exams.  I am working hard in order to get a bright future.  I am prepairing to go to Secondary.  I love God so much and I know God will help me in whatever things I do.  May the almighty God bless you.  Please pray for me I have a problem with my throat and I cannot speak talk.

By your daughter

Namanda Sharifa

My voice is not audible. When you were still in school, was maths an easy subject?  On my side Maths is a problem.

How to Help

If you or your group would like to contribute to the educational needs of Namanda or other of the ARA Uganda Kids (any amount) or would like to sponsor a child for a year ($240 a year), please contact  call 501-760-2343 or email terri@terriclarkministries.org or visit http://www.terriclarkministries.org.  Remember if you can't sponsor a whole year at $240 any amount that is donated to ARA Uganda Kids can be used toward their sponsorships. 

Sponsoring an ARA Uganda Child is an International Project that counts toward Honor Council.

IRA Coordinator's Corner:

Hope everyone has enjoyed your snow days.  Please remind me in June of the fun I had during the snow this winter.  I will probably not be thinking about snow when the temperatures are in the 90's and we are still in school!

I hope some of you will consider committing an ongoing contribution to the sponsorship of the ARA Uganda Kids.   If 24 ARA members give $10 each, a child in Uganda can go to school for a year.  That's pretty amazing math or should I say maths (see Namanda's letter above). 

Stay warm and cozy up with a good book!

   
Tanna Clark
IRA Coordinator, Arkansas Reading Association