Reading...From the Very Beginning! |
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When should you start reading to your child? Before he or she is born! Yes...science shows that reading to a baby prenatally helps to develop early language learning. In a blog from Green Child Magazine, writer Megan McCoy Dellecese outlines some of the benefits for baby and family of reading before birth -- and, of course, from then on! Learn more here!!!
NOVA RIF board member Maureen McLaughlin read to her new little one both before birth...and now! Welcome baby Isabelle "Izzy" McLaughlin, daughter of Maureen and granddaughter of board member and Fairfax West area chair Chris McLaughlin.
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BOOK BABIES!
Speaking of babies, in January, we began a new feature: BOOK BABIES! Why? Because pictures help tell the love-of-reading story! Do you have a photo of a baby or toddler "reading" ... or at least trying?! If so, send in your favorite photo(s) to our email: rifnova@gmail.com. We will publish one new photo a month in the newsletter and on our website (with absolutely no names). All we need from you is approval to use the photo in our media.
March's BOOK BABY caption: Gettin' ready for a busy day!
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Kilby ES Holds a Covid-Savvy Winter Distribution!
Thanks to school librarian Megan Gee and reading specialist and NOVA RIF liaison Sarah Kelly, Kilby Elementary School in Woodbridge held a RIF of NOVA book distribution at the end of January, despite the obstacles. As they reported:
"Kilby’s distribution looked a little different this winter, but it held the same excitement for our students! Our virtual students picked up their books when they came to pick up their supplies for the spring semester. When talking about their books on Zoom, students shared that they were so excited to spend time reading their new books. In-person students were able to have a more traditional experience while maintaining social distancing. We were able to see them eagerly reading their books when they took them back to their desks. We are all hopeful to have more normalcy soon, but we are so thankful to still give our students experiences like these."
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A by-car delivery to a student in the virtual program. |
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Second- through fourth-graders, though distanced and masked, were proud to show off their new books! |
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Love my mask! Love my new RIF of NOVA book! |
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Added features in the last month...Check out these links!
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Meet Barbara Leary, local author of three books for children that spotlight her granddaughters, Eleanor, Virginia, and Caroline. "Having little ones in my life gives me an opportunity to share my love of storytelling," she notes. Her profile is the latest in our New Books...with a NOVA Connection series. |
As of March 8, there were 7 followers. Let's see if more will follow by April! Will YOU?!
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Board member Carylee Carrington has written a blog called Representation Matters, noting that In children's literature, these words should be more than just a hashtag or Black History Month message. Exactly right! Find Carylee's blog here. |
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During the pandemic, we are accepting NEW or GENTLY used books (as like-new as possible!). If you have or want to collect books, contact us at rifnova@gmail.com. We will arrange to pick them up. So far, we have collected more than 4,000 books, and over 2,500 have new homes in the RIF of NOVA community! A full list of book donors can be found on our website at: http://www.rifnova.org/contribute-books.html.
Here are some of our most recent book donors!
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Brother and sister duo Cooper and Kaitlyn Selig both love reading. Kaitlyn is an avid reader of historical fiction. Cooper loves graphic novels and any book that talks about Minecraft. They are donating books to NOVA RIF so that others will have a chance to enjoy them, too. Their dad, Ben, remembers RIF public service announcements from his childhood. As RIF of NOVA heads toward its 50th anniversary in 2022!!!, Ben finds it truly amazing that we are still around. Yep, we ARE, thanks to our RIF of NOVA community!!! |
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Mrs. Akbar’s fourth-grade class at Forestville Elementary School in Great Falls wanted a contactless service project to undertake in spite of the pandemic. PTA class mother Jennifer Morcos made the connection with NOVA RIF, and the drive was on. Not only did the children collect nearly 200 books, they also made some bookmarks to share! Nine-year-old Andrew Morcos stands proudly with the Forestville collection. Thank you to all who helped with this cool project! |
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Donated Books for Read Across America Day!
March is National Reading Month, and March 2 was Read Across America Day, sponsored by the National Education Association. The NEA features a full year-long calendar full of ideas to celebrate books for children. Each month has a theme -- such as fostering empathy, community building, and empowering student voices -- with book ideas for each month. Find the NEA calendar by clicking here!
Below, NOVA RIF helpers were at it again...stuffing Little Free Libraries in celebration of Read Across America Day and National Reading Month!
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Five-year-old Anna Promen, granddaughter of board member Liz Promen, wanted to help distribute donated books in honor of National Reading Month. Our hearts just melted to see this cute patoot! However, before the books went into the Little Free Library box near Woodley Hills ES, Anna insisted on reading each one! Go Anna!!! |
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Tipping their Read Across America Day hats at Barcroft Elementary in Arlington were board member and Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School librarian Dora Sue Black (l) and Barcroft school library media specialist and NOVA RIF liaison Jackie Pippins.
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Fifth-grader McKenzie Watt has collected over 2,000 books for the community, and she had a chance to donate some of them at Carlin Springs Elementary in celebration of Read Across America Day. McKenzie started her own nonprofit, Kenzie's Kids, because "books are my absolute passion!" Click here or on McKenzie's photo above to watch her RIF of NOVA interview!
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A tribute to Peggy Glenn Stephenson
by RIF of NOVA Board Former President Nancy King
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It is with great sadness that I share the news of the death of Peggy Glenn Stephenson last month. For many of us, Peggy was a longtime friend. I feel blessed that I was able to call her that for more than 40 years. We did have some fun and adventurous times, and I am sure many others can remember happy times with her over the years. Peggy had the biggest and most generous heart, beautiful violet-blue eyes, and true style and elegance!
Most of all, she was a consummate literacy leader in Arlington, Northern Virginia, and the Commonwealth through her work as: an APS Teacher Specialist for Reading; President of the Greater Washington Reading Council; co-President of Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia; and President of the Virginia State Reading Association. Peggy made a difference to the personal and literacy lives of so many and will be sorely missed. I plan to honor Peggy with a donation to Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, as she was a longtime board member, a past co-president, and a donor. Others are welcome to contribute in memory of Peggy at rifnova.org/donate.
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Special thanks to the Arlington Retired Teachers Association for a generous donation from its members!
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*Send a check to our mailbox:
RIF of NOVA
P. O. Box 7012
Arlington, VA 22207-0012
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Other options to help:
*Register with smile.amazon.com. Type in Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, Inc. to select us as the charity you want to support. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to RIF of NOVA. With all our current online ordering, the 0.5% can really add up!
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*If your workplace holds a United Way campaign, designate RIF of NOVA as your chosen philanthropy. Our United Way # is 8959. |
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Thank you for any donation -- no matter how big or small! And thank you for being part of the RIF of NOVA community!
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Please share the RAP! Forward our newsletter to your friends and anyone interested in providing books to children who need them!
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