On the warm, sunny Tuesday,
June 27th, 12 young kids met in front of the Perham Library at 10:00 am.
They waited outside the library doors until it opened. While they were
there, they started to plan out which books they were going to read today.
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Every week, a few
fourth and fifth graders get to do something that most kids don't. These
kids are involved in a program called Senior Reading Buddies. This program
was created to bridge the gap between young and old through literature.
The kids that are involved in this meet at the library at 10:00 am and
pick out some of their favorite books to read. Then they are taken over
to the nursing home where they are partnered up with an elderly person.
The kids read the stories that they picked out to the elderly people.
After they are done reading, there is time to discuss the story. This program
provides a great opportunity for young kids to learn about what it was
like for the older generations. They learn about how important experience
is. At the same time, the elderly people get a chance to visit with the
younger generation and hear their stories too. You can see from the expressions
on their faces that it is an oppurtunity that both parties thoroughly enjoy.
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The first thing
that the kids did when they got into the library was pick out what books
they wanted to read to the elderly. They described to me the correct method
in which to pick out a book. "First you have to look at all the pages in
the book to make sure that it is not too long. It has to be a medium- sized
book. Then you pick out two more medium-sized books to read."
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The kids all seemed
to be participating in this program for the same reason. "It sounded like
a lot of fun, and I love to read," was the response from three of the kids
that I asked.
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The kids thumbed
through the various books. They have about 20 minutes to pick out the books
that they want to read, and they have to practice reading them in that
time period too.
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After the kids went
through the meticuluous task of picking out their books, they checked them
out at the library desk.
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These girls literally
have their noses buried in their books.
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Sam said that she
got involved in this program because it sounde fun and she loves to read.
She said that some speakers came and spoke to the kids at school about
this program and that is how she became interested in it.
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Sue, the librarian,
helps the kids get organized and makes sure that they've got all of their
books ready to go. Sue, you're doing a great job!
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The kids load into
a van from Perham Transportation. The van will take them from the library
to the nursing home and back again. The kids were all excited and ran out
to the van when it was time to load.
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Seven kids squeazed
into the van with their books in hand, the other five kids squeazed into
a station wagon.
Visit other Photo essays from Grassroots
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When the kids got
to the nursing home, they rushed out of the van eager to begin their reading.
They get to read and interact with the elderly for 40 minutes; they wanted
to make each minute count and wasted no time to start reading.
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One of the kids
told me that they get a new partner every week, so they get to know different
people. They told me "You learn a lot from doing this; the people are really
friendly and they tell you a lot about what it was like when they were
growing up."
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These two ladies
seem to have more in common than just a love of literature, they also seem
to love the same color, green.
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While Sam is reading,
she is also learning a lot about the lady that she is reading to. The lady
relates parts of the story to her life on the farm as a little girl. Sam
also tells the lady what she does for fun and all of the different hobbies
she has. To the surprise of them both, they have more in common they had
imagined.
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Other Sites of Interest:
Regional Library Web Site
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The listeners do
just that very attentively. The kids that did the reading did a great job.
You guys are great.
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These two read a
book together. There is a definate bond that is formed here. In only 40
minutes, a friendship is formed.
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Whitney got the
chance to read to her grandfather. This program provides a great chance
for Whitney and her grandfather to bond.
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Grassroots in OtterTail, Mn. We are open daily until November. "
Tom Meinhover |
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You can see the
shared enjoyment that these two have in each others company. Both the kids
and the adults seem to have a lot of fun; it is evident in their joyful
smiles
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HATS OFF TO BECKY
STOLEE!
She is the creator of
this program.
It is a great idea and
on behalf of the community, we would like to thank you for your great idea
and the wonderful community service program that you helped to create.
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After the story
is finished, the kids and the elderly people had a chance to talk a little
bit about what they liked about the story and the events in the story that
remind them of things that had happened in their own lives.
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Most of the kids
read about three books in all, and had an opportunity
to visit for quite awhile
before it was time to
go.
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The kids kept on
reading and visiting until they were told that
it was time to go.
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The kids all remarked
afterwards how much fun they had. They all said the people they read to
were extremely friendly and were very easy to talk with.
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Thanks for comming this is Web Page. Grassroots
invites your comments and suggestions.
Special Congratulations to Jessica Miller for the production of this her
first complete Web Page.
June 26th 2000
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