PREVIOUS WINNING PROJECTS

In January 2005, checks in the amount of $200 each were sent to these recipients of the ORA Literacy Special Projects Grants. Congratulations!

Ellen Carlson, Mid-Valley Council, will buy books that are also songs. Primary students at Layfayette Elementary will learn with integrated music, reading, and writing. The school will match funds.

Carolyn J. Chancler, Rogue Valley Council, will purchase reading materials and audio tapes for adult students at Rogue Community College’s Fir Street Learning Center. The ESL and pre-GED/Adult Basic Education students will have reading and listening materials that are appropriate for their abilities.

Susan Coleman, Mid-Valley Council, plans to purchase bilingual books for the Houck Middle School Spanish Club. Students design lesson plans and teach themes and vocabulary to elementary children.

Susan Creighton, Mid Valley Council, needs new books for the very successful Reader Acceleration Program at Jefferson School in Corvallis. “Rockin’ Readers” pairs older experienced readers with emergent readers.

Shirley Northcraft, Umpqua Council, will buy books for the yearly “Battle of the Books” competition. Two more of Roseburg’s public schools will then be included in the motivating literary challenge.

Donna Shrier, Vineyard Valleys Council, plans to take groups of 4th, 5th or 6th grade Title 1 readers to perform at a nearby retirement home. They need books of poems, readers theater scripts and folk tales for their presentations.

Mary Margaret Stockert & Nita Young, Driftwood Council, will establish a permanent leveled book collection that can be shared by eleven primary teachers at Blossom Gulch Elementary, a Title 1 school in Coos Bay with 534 students.

Marilyn Wilks, Mid-Columbia Council, proposes to develop a lending library of books in Spanish and/or dual language Spanish/English books to promote literacy at home. 22% of students at Chenowith Elementary in The Dalles are English language learners, 75% are in poverty.

Lisa Williams, Portland Council, received funds to establish a Mock Caldecott Club involving three 3rd grade classrooms and the library at Chehalem Elementary in Beaverton. Six picture book titles will be selected and four copies of each purchased. Students will read, study the creative process, understand art elements, and discuss books.

Deborah Zirin, Mid-Valley Council, will buy books for Newport Middle School in Newport. They will be available for all to use for oral or silent reading in the classroom or at home.

ORA received 23 Literacy Special Project Grant requests. All had merit, and the selection process was not easy. Thanks to all members who applied. The selection committee included Gayla Clark, Carol Brown, Beverly Farris, Karen Antikajian and Barbara McKillip.