Bringing Hope to a Classroom Devoid of Books

Rebecca Javadi, a Teach for America volunteer who is teaching in inner-city Detroit at Marvin L. Winans Academy of Performing Arts, visited Reader to Reader and picked out hundreds of books for her first grade class. She spoke about the challenge of sparking an interest in reading when she faced a complete absence of resources.

“When I walked into my classroom for the first time there wasn’t a single book, says Rebecca Javadi. “I have collected a few books throughout the year for the class. With those books my students have created a reading club during lunch. Receiving these books from Reader to Reader is going to help my students expand their imagination and joy of reading.”

Knowing the impact the books would have on her students literally gave her happy tears of joy.

“The is an amazing, amazing place!" she said, her arms full of books. "Thank you for all you do. This will mean so much to them. I can’t wait to share these books with all my students!”

A Passionate Teacher Using Innovative Methods

A special salute to a very passionate teacher, Sheila O’Gorman, at John L. Marsh Elementary School in Chicago.

Even during the summer she is using innovative methods to boost her students’ reading levels.

Last year, O’Gorman had the bright idea to get the kids hooked on reading through audio books they listen to on iPods while reading along with books donated by Reader To Reader. The kids love the iPods because they “look cool” and they are reading up a storm.

Now the kids are reading on their own without the audio aids.

“The kids are really enjoying reading the many, many books you sent with the last request, a lot of Goosebumps which my boys love,” she reports.

Next up for the kids are classics from Twain, Dickens, Stevenson and H.G. Wells. We are busy gathering the books together and she has her iPods at the ready. (She needs a few more iPods if you would like to donate.)

Keep up the great work Sheila! Your innovative methods are making a difference.

21 Years and Still More to Give!

Retired teacher Christine Mulcahey rented a U-Haul to donate 35 boxes of books to Reader To Reader.

“I hope children will pick up these books and learn to love reading,” she says.

Christine taught for 21 years at Littleville Elementary in the Gateway regional School District. When she retired this spring she wanted to make sure all the books and teaching resources she acquired over two decades found a new home in classrooms at under-resourced schools.

She had accumulated so many books that she had to rent a van to bring them down to us.

Thanks Christine! We know thousands of kids will enjoy this mountain of books.