Pre-K Read-A-Thon

K280 Read-A-Thon

Welcome to the Read-a-Thon!

The K280 PTA, in a partnership with the K280 Diversity Committee and Terrace Books, is excited to announce the 2021 K280 Read-a-thon & Fundraiser.

The PTA and Diversity Committee has planned events, activities and book sales all month long. Here’s a sampling of what’s happening. Stayed tuned for more information.

Read-a-thon fundraiser to raise money for K280
Sunday morning (virtual) storytimes at Terrace Books exclusively for K280 families
Literacy workshops for grownups
20 percent discounts on children’s books at Terrace Books
Book drive for K280 families
Families can purchase curated book bundles featuring diverse books from Terrace Books. Families will get a sneak peak later this month.
K280 teachers are creating a limited supply of literacy kits to supplement select books to extend the book’s lessons. The PTA will be selling these kits in the coming weeks. The kits will include the book, all materials needed for the project and instructions.

During the first week of March, our whole school will read the same book everyday and children will be invited to explore each theme by dressing up.

We’ll continue updating this page throughout the month and will send updates and reminders to keep you informed. If you are interested in volunteering to help with Read-a-thon activities, please email us at k280pta@ps10.org

Register Here

GETTING STARTED:

1. Signing up:

We encourage you to activate your reader’s account today by clicking on https://www.read-athon.com/readers/r/itCNLT and follow the instructions listed on the website.

2. Log and track minutes and money raised:

Once you sign up, you’ll receive an email from colby@read-a-thon.com that includes a link and secret code for your personal Read-a-Thon page. Here you can enter and track the minutes your family plans to read and see how much money you've raised.

3. Promote the Read-a-Thon:

You can also use this page to easily promote the Read-a-Thon through emails, texts and social media.

Your personal page can be found at https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers. If you have trouble logging in, please email the PTA. You can also follow our school’s progress on the K280 Read-a-thon Page.

To Add Read-a-thon to Your Phone for Easy Access:

In Safari, paste the web address. Enter the secret code.
Tap the upload button
Scroll down to “Add to Home Screen”

Activity Kits Now on SALE!!!

We are excited to share that our activity kits are now ready for purchase!

Please click this link to purchase!

Learn More About the Kits Here!

Outside In Nature Kit

Homemade Love Sensory Kit

Festival of Colors Art Kit

Harlem Grown Gardening Kit

K280 Celebrates READ ACROSS AMERICA!

Please see our K280 READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK-3 1 poster for a printable copy

Wednesday, March 10 - Celebrate You Day!

Come to school dressed in something that represents you and your family! This can be connected to your family’s culture(s), heritage, traditions, music, languages, foods, and much more!

Thursday, March 11 - Favorite Animal Day!

Come to school dressed as your favorite animal- real or imaginary!

Friday, March 12 - Silly Socks Day!

Wear socks that you want to show our school community!

Monday, March 15 - Favorite Book Character Day!

Come to school dressed as your favorite book character!

Tuesday, March 16 - Fun Hair Day!

Come to school dressed as a superhero!

Friday, March 19 - Dream Big Day!

We are asking families to help your child think about what inspires them. Come to school dressed as what inspires you!

Friday, March 26 - Silly Hat Day!

Come dressed in your Silly Hat! Make a silly hat and bring it to school for everyone to see!

Windows, Mirrors, and Doors

The development of literacy skills begins early in young children through their experiences with language (storytelling, songs, talking) and literature (reading books together with children, back-and-forth discussions about stories, interactions with diverse books). Reading aloud with children nurtures their development of visual imagery, story comprehension, word meaning, and phonemic awareness. Reading also strengthens children's social, emotional, and character development as books become tools that can be used to visualize and communicate about tough feelings and thoughts.

(Information sourced from: https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/why-reading-aloud-to-kids-helps-them-thrive

Books are MIRRORS, WINDOWS, and DOORS for all who open and delve into their stories.

We need diverse books because we need books in which children can see reflections of themselves – but also look through and see other worlds.

(RUDINE SIMS BISHOP)

Rudine Sims Bishop, Ph.D

Rudine Sims Bishop, professor emerita at Ohio State University, has been referred to as the “mother of” multicultural children's literature for her groundbreaking American children’s literature research.

Rudine Sims Bishop, Ph.D

"One of the reasons literature exists is to transform human experience, and reflect it back to us so that we can better understand it. Through the mirror of literature we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience. Reading then, becomes a mean of self-affirmation, of reaffirming our place in the world and our society." (Rudine Sims Bishop)

Books as Mirrors

"The availability of books about various cultural groups becomes important because books are not only mirrors, they are also socializers. They give subtle messages about who and what we value in our society. When children cannot find themselves in books, or when they see themselves presented only as laughable stereotypes, they learn a powerful lesson about how much they are undervalued in the society in which they are a part. They should be able to see reflections of their culture- their values, beliefs, attitudes, institutions, social relations, language, customs; their "design for living."" (From Windows and Mirrors: Children's Books and Parallel Cultures)

Rudine Sims Bishop talks about books as mirrors, which are texts in which children can find themselves, their families, and their communities reflected and valued. When students read books where they see characters like themselves who are valued in the world, they feel a sense of belonging. (From https://www.weareteachers.com/mirrors-and-windows/)

Books as Windows

"Books can be windows where children from dominant social groups can look through to come to know people whose cultures are different from their own. If they see only reflections of themselves, they will grow up with an exaggerated view of their importance and value in the world- a dangerous ethnocentrism. We should choose our literature wisely. If we want our children to know what we value, we must present them with literature that reflects our values. The telling of stories connects lives together and celebrates the universality of the human experience." (From Windows and Mirrors: Children's Books and Parallel Cultures)

Children need to learn about how other people conduct themselves in the world in order to understand how they might fit in. This is where you’ll need to diversify your materials so that children get to see a window into the range of possibilities out in the world. For some children, this may be the first time they are exposed to differences in culture, skin color, religion, and lifestyle. It’s important that their introduction is one of nonjudgment and supportive acceptance. Let kids find some comparisons on their own before guiding them to see similarities and differences. Share lots of picture books with all age groups so you can provide rich information about a lot of topics in a short period of time. (From https://www.weareteachers.com/mirrors-and-windows/)

Books as Doors

“These windows are also sliding glass doors, and readers have only to walk through in imagination to become part of whatever world has been created and recreated by the author." (From https://ehe.osu.edu/news/listing/rudine-sims-bishop-diverse-childrens-books)

Diverse Books

Diverse books can become the windows, doors, and mirrors that we need to learn the stories of others similar and different from us, from the past and present.

The Danger of a Single Story

"Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding."

Why Diverse Books are Important for Everyone- Not Just Marginalized Kids

https://diversebooks.org/why-diverse-books-are-important-for-everyone-not-just-marginalized-kids/

Library Questionnaire

This is a checklist that can be used to analyze how diverse and culturally responsive home (and classroom) libraries are. It is a tool that can be used to find gaps and spaces in libraries to build up diverse library collections- even at home!

https://www.leeandlow.com/uploads/loaded_document/408/Classroom-Library-Questionnaire_FINAL.pdf

Book List

Library Resources

Although libraries are not open for browsing, most are open for lobby service.

You can go online, put books on hold and choose where to pick them up.

Can't Make it to The Library?

The Brooklyn Public Library offers many of its titles as e-books, including picture books.

Brooklyn Public Libraries are not open for browsing, most are open for lobby service. You can go online, put books on hold and choose where to pick them up.

Book Recommendations

The PTA and Diversity Committee has made it easy for you to check out our recommendations from the library. Check out our list of general book recommendations and diverse book recommendations. You can easily put them on hold. Note many of the titles are also available as e-books.

E-books and Audiobooks

The Brooklyn Public Library offers many of its titles digitally, including picture books. This website can be used to search for ebooks and audiobooks to borrow online. https://www.bklynlibrary.org/borrow/ebooks-audiobooks

Bklyn BookMatch

Do you need book recommendations? Bklyn BookMatch is a free service from the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) where a BPL librarian will create a customized reading list of 5 titles for you. Please fill out the form on this website for help with this service: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/bookmatch

Need a Library Card?

If you need a library card, a few libraries including Central Library, Flatbush Library and Red Hook Library are processing in-person library cards. For immediate access to e-books and digital resources, apply for an e-card at https://disc.bklynlibrary.org/ecard/

Upcoming Events

K280 Read-a-thon Calendar 2021 Register at https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/itCNLT
Wednesday March 10	Celebrate You Day! Come to school dressed in something that represents you and your family!
Thursday March 11	Favorite Animal Day! Come to school dressed as your favorite animal- real or imaginary!
Friday March 12	Silly Sock Day! Wear socks that you want to show our school community!
Sunday March 14	Virtual Storytime with Terrace Books @ 10 a.m. Meeting ID: 847 9724 9272 Code: K280
Monday March 15	Favorite Book Character Day! Come to school dressed as your favorite book character! Book Drive: Drop off your gently used books
Tuesday March 16	Fun Hair Day! Come to school in a hairstyle that you want to show everyone!
Wednesday March 17	Superhero Day! Come to school dressed as a superhero!
Thursday March 18	Bed time Read Aloud with Mr. Alejandro (Class 273) @ 7:15 p.m. Meeting ID: 548 075 4188 Code: 665042
Friday March 19	Dream Big Day! Help your child think about what inspires them. Come to school dressed as what inspires you!
Sunday March 21	Virtual Storytime with Terrace Books @ 10 a.m. Meeting ID: 847 9724 9272 Code: K280
Monday March 22	Bed time Read Aloud with Ms. Rachel (Art) @ 7:15 p.m. Meeting ID: 772 2337 5559 Code: 3gs1r4
Tuesday March 23	Bed time Read Aloud with Ms. Shannon (Class 128) @ 7:15 p.m. Meeting ID: 983 6283 4298 Passcode: x5NQHU
Wednesday March 24	“Diverse Books for Young Children” workshop presented by K280 teacher Linda Pak @ 7:30 p.m. Meeting ID: 978 1437 4084 Passcode: diversity
Thursday March 25	After-school Read Aloud with Ms. Brandy (Class 224) @ 4:30 p.m. Meeting ID: 890 9975 4631 Passcode: Louie Bed time Read Aloud with Ms.Gaylene at 7:15 p.m Meeting ID: 779 7331 7299 Passcode: zft9rQ
Friday March 26	Silly Hat Day! Come dressed in your Silly Hat! Make a silly hat and bring it to school for everyone to see!
Sunday March 28	Virtual Storytime with Terrace Books @ 10 a.m. Meeting ID: 847 9724 9272 Code: K280
Tuesday April 6	Last day of the Read-a-thon. Ends at 8 p.m.

Contact Us

K280 PTA

K280pta@ps10.org

Terrace Books

info@terracebooks.com

https://www.communitybookstore.net/terrace-books

(718) 788-3475

FAQ

Where can I order books?

All books can be ordered through the Terrace Books website, by calling the bookstore or in-person at the bookstore. Please note: Due to COVID-19, customers cannot enter the bookstore to look at books at this time.
https://www.communitybookstore.net/terrace-books

Where can I pick up my book orders?

Books can be picked up from Terrace Books. You will be notified by the bookstore when your order is ready for pick up.

How can I donate books to a classroom or another family in our K280 community?

When you order books on the Terrace Books website, you will be able to select the options to donate books to a classroom or a family at K280.

What if I want to order a book that's not on the book lists?

You will be able to search for books on the Terrace Books website. You can also reach out to the bookstore for help in ordering specific titles.

Can I look through books before purchasing them?

Yes! We will have books from our book packages list available for grown-ups to peruse through at tables after children have been dropped off in the parking lot. We ask for everyone's cooperation in being mindful of the time spent at these tables to ensure safety and access for all.

What is an art kit? Science kit?

These kits have been created to further the lessons and ideas from books from our book packages. Each kit comes with materials and instructions for an activity designed for our pre-k children.

How do the book bundles work?

Book bundles are one way for families to build up a collection of diverse books in their home libraries. Our book bundles have been curated and put together to support families' diverse needs and interests. Books from these lists can also be purchased individually.