Program News 2010
KidzLit Kicks Off
As Dr. Seuss once wrote, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." With the introduction of KidzLit, an engaging literacy curriculum, second grade students at our Brooklyn Beacon at PS 15 after-school program will be going places in no time! Supported by a generous grant from the Brooklyn Community Foundation, the KidzLit program is designed to inspire a true love of reading and help youth improve their comprehension, vocabulary, and analytical skills, while also having a positive impact on their interpersonal relationships, teamwork skills, and core values.
Led by after-school program staff, 25 second graders have been taking part in the KidzLit curriculum since September 2010. Youth read books together; engage in discussions about the lessons and morals of the books they read; and participate in hands-on activities, such as poetry, drama, and arts and crafts, that relate to the books and encourage them to make connections to their own lives. One popular book youth read this fall was The Emperor and the Kite, a Chinese folk story that tells the tale of a young girl who must save her father, the Emperor, from captivity using only her courage, strength, and a homemade kite. After reading and discussing the book, youth participated in a "connection activity," during which they designed and built their own kites, like the young girl in the book. This activity helped them connect to the characters, story, and the book's messages of courage, loyalty, and the idea that there is a hero in all of us.
In the spring, we will bring an experienced third grade teacher from PS 15 onboard to run our KidzLit curriculum, when this exciting program will be offered to not only our second graders, but to 25 third graders as well, doubling the number of children served. We are extremely grateful to the Brooklyn Community Foundation for its generous support of this fun, educational initiative, and we hope the lessons our vulnerable young people learn will lead them wherever they wish to go.
December 15, 2010
