Summer Reading at Hopkinton Rec!

This summer marked the eighth consecutive year of the Hopkinton Recreation Summer Read Aloud Program!  The program invites Chariho staff members to volunteer an hour of their time to read aloud to the camp's participants.  (The reading program also took place in Charlestown!)  The students get so excited when they know one of the people who has shown up to read to them!

We were joined the first week by Mrs. Potter, 5th grade teacher at CMS, and Ms. Sorensen, PE teacher at Ashaway and Hope Valley

 

guest reader Mrs. Allen, 5th grade teacher at CMS

guest reader Mr. Scanapieco, principal at Ashaway School

guest reader Mrs. Pierce, teacher assistant at CMS

guest reader Mrs. Bliven, 3rd grade teacher at Ashaway School

Like last year, I started off the first session by introducing the children to the available books with a short "book talk".  Then each child was allowed to select which reading group to join.  In the past we split them up by grade, but we've decided that it's even better to offer them a choice.  Not only did that increase their excitement, but it also introduced them to titles that they might decide to pick up and read on their own!
  

This year's chapter book selections from the list of RICBA nominees!

All three came from a list of books nominated for the Rhode Island Children’s Book Award (RICBA).  During the school year, students are encouraged to read at least three of the books from the list in order to vote for the winner.  In addition, several of the schools (including Ashaway) hold competitions called the Rooster Games based these nominees.  By selecting books from this list, the children participating in HopRec will already have one of these books completed by the end of the summer or, at least, will have gotten an extended preview!

In addition to our "chapter book" groups, I also bring along a bin of picture books with related activities for the younger kids. Miss Lindsey, one of the HopRec counselors, did an awesome job presenting these and I'm grateful to her for always being willing to jump right in!

Miss Lindsey leading an extension activity for Caps for Sale

No matter which group a child joined, every one of them spent an hour each week interacting with some excellent books.  It truly is a wonderful program, and I'm very proud to be a part of it.  My sincerest thanks go out to the fabulous staff at the camp who were so accommodating in order to make it all possible and to the staff members who volunteered to participate!