Aldine ISD Curriculum and Instruction Department Focuses on Literacy, Art in Make a Difference Day Project
Staff members talk to families about the importance of reading and art in child development.
Carlos Barrón, executive director of curriculum and instruction, (right) reads to children.
[dropcap color=”#888″ type=”square”]E[/dropcap]very year, Aldine ISD campuses and departments take part in Make a Difference Day. The national initiative seeks to connect individuals with projects that do good for someone else.
The [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Curriculum and Instruction Department decided to reach out into the community. Not surprising, the staff members centered their project around the importance of literacy and art in child development.
Cindy Benge and Cindy Buchanan emphasize the importance of reading. Benge serves as the program director of high school language arts.
“Reading is the most powerful tool available for building vocabulary. Reading also improves the ability to read, write, spell and comprehend. The more students read, the better readers and writers they become.”
“Access to books and libraries is vital to create a culture of reading,” said Buchanan. “Parents can take an active role. With their involvement, they can encourage reading at home. This will make a difference. They can help their children be better prepared for academic success.”
The department has organized three events for families in the community.
Calendar of Events for Aldine ISD Curriculum & Instruction Make a Difference Day Series @ Local Public Library
Location: [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Harris County Public Library-Aldine Branch @ 11331 Airline Dr., Houston, TX 77037.
[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Event 1: September 24 @ 10:30-11:30 a.m.[/li] [li]Event 2: October 29 @ 10:30-11:30 a.m. [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Event 3: November 12 @ 10:30-11:30 a.m.[/li][/ul]
The department will select one of three books to read at each event. They include Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester, The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, and Charlie Piechart and the Case of the Missing Pizza Slice by Marilyn Sadler.
The staff engages families with an interactive read-aloud.
The families will receive their very own copy of the selected book read at the event attended to add to their home libraries.
Did You Know …
[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Reading habits are critical in developing the foundation for later success.[/li] [li]Students that read more, read better. They also write better, spell better, and have larger vocabularies. They also have better control of complex grammatical constructions.[/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Children who enjoy reading will read more and become proficient at the same time.[/li] [li]The amount of reading done out of school consistently relates to gains in reading achievement. [/li][/ul]
Each event also has children and their parents take part in an art-making activity inspired by the book read at the event. Dr. Michaelann Kelley shares with families simple ways to inspire and engage children in art. She serves as the program director for fine arts in AISD.
“Simple creative activities are some of the building blocks of child development.” said Kelley. “The benefits of art are many. They include improved language development, visual learning, inventiveness, cultural awareness and improved academic performance.
“Art also has a way of helping young and old to connect with the world around them. Art opens people to new ways of seeing things as well as enjoying deeper forms of beauty or understanding of a concept or theme.
These social and community skills are all essential in helping students fulfill their potential.
“Many studies show the amazing benefits of art education. Integrating art in other core subjects makes learning come alive. Arts integration taps into so many different interests and abilities and forms of learning.”
Carlos Barrón invites Aldine families to attend the upcoming events.
“Reading at an early age is the key to success,” said Barrón. “The book giveaway for families helps build their personal libraries. We want families to read at home. We want them to check out books from libraries. We want parents to model reading at home too. The collaboration with the public library is a great way to connect with the community. I invite families to come out to take part. This is a fun way to reinforce the importance of reading. And we reinforce how art enhances learning.”
Dr. Kelley leads the cross-curricular art activity at the 2015 event.
Make plans to attend with your children the two final events at HCPL-Aldine Branch!
Create a reading culture. Engage children in reading literacy. Motivate them to become lifelong readers. And let books inspire individuals of all ages.
How are reading skills used in the workplace?
Employees must read and understand written information. Different types of workplace documents include work instructions, emails, memos, policies and reports. Professionals must scan for information and derive meaning. Employees must determine if the information is relevant or how they will use it. They must also be able to integrate information from many sources.
How important are writing skills in the workforce?
The National Commission on Writing conducted a comprehensive study of 120 major American corporations. It concluded that writing is a “threshold skill” for hiring among professional employees. Writing skills also give individuals a leg up on a new job or promotion. Two-thirds of salaried employees in large American companies have some writing responsibility. One HR manager stated that written material must be “crystal clear.”
Employers emphasize the significance of good writing skills for career preparedness. A recent Wall Street Journal article focused on “Must-Have Job Skills.” It identified clear communication, which includes writing, as the #1 skill necessary for success in the job market.
Learn More About the Importance of Art Education
Americans for the Arts conducted a longitudinal study of 25,000 students between 1987 and 1998. The research showed that students benefited from art. They showed improved academic performance and low dropout rates.
Duke University’s Talent Identification Program also values recognizing and supporting creative talent.
Children need opportunities to develop their creativity. According to Dr. Bonnie Cramond, motivation in childhood is a better predictor of adult talent than ability. She is a professor of gifted and creative education at the University of Georgia.
Cramond also serves as director of the Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development. Ellis Paul Torrance wrote Manifesto for Children. Torrence based his manifesto on his observations of creative development. The manifesto provides guidance in fostering creativity.
“As our world becomes more complex and problems become more challenging,” Cramond said. “The need for creative individuals to address these situations in innovative ways increases. If creativity goes unrecognized, both the creative individual and society lose. Discovery and development of creativity should be primary goals of families and schools.”
Abilities develop over time. Yet, the tenacity to pursue an area of interest usually shows up early.
Businesses are catching on. In 2010, IBM’s Institute of Business Value surveyed 1,500 chief executives. The CEOs identified “creativity” as the most important leadership competency. Creativity is vital for the future success of an enterprise.
About the Author: Leticia Fehling
