Pillow Talk

THE PROGRAM: Pillow Talk is a project in which Spanish dominant children take home literature in their native language so their parents can read them bedtime stories. Parents learn how to better communicate with their children about stories, maximizing the instructional impact of this informal literacy experience. A lending library is set up in the classroom and the children take home a book of their choice. They keep it until they are finished, and when they return it they can take another book. The parental component takes place at a workshop where a teacher models reading a story in Spanish and generating "book talk" with their children. Addi tionally, they learn questioning techniques and other reading readiness skills.

THE STUDENTS: This program involves approximately thirty-five kindergarten students from Spanish dominant homes. Typically, each child would take home 2 or 3 books per week. This program can be easily adapted to other grade levels. All that is needed are books which are of interest to that grade level and a Spanish speaking person to lead a parent workshop.

THE STAFF: This program is easily set up and managed by a teacher and classroom aide. In an older grade, students could take turns being the "librarian" and once a system is set up to check out books, they could do it themselves.

MATERIALS & FACILITIES: The materials necessary are books in Spanish in a variety of subject areas. Additionally, a system for taking and returning books needs to be set up.

OUTSIDE RESOURCES: It is fun to invite parents to be guest readers or, if there are school personnel who speak Spanish, it would be nice to invite them in and have them read a story in Spanish to the class.

OVERALL VALUE: Children love this program and so do parents! It's easy to manage and it accomplishes a lot. Most of the parents of our children have few children's books in Spanish in their homes and that makes it difficult for them to

help their children establish those early literacy skills. Older students who are Spanish dominant can continue to read and learn in their native language while they acquire English language ability.

RECOMMENDED FUNDING: Books are very costly. It requires $300.00 to set up a small library.

For More Information:

Developer: Gail MacWhirter

SCHOOL: Columbus Magnet ElemSchool

275 North Washington Ave.

New Rochelle, New York 10801

(914) 576-4400

Principal: Leah Rukeyser

DISTRICT: New Rochelle City School District

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