Greenville first graders relish reading to seniors

Once a month since October, a class of Greenville Elementary first graders and county residents come together to read, through an inter-generational program designed to encourage literacy among students.

Monday marked students’ third visit to an assisted living center in Warrenton, where they performed several poems for residents before settling down for stories and snacks.

“We have third-grade reading buddies in school, but I wanted to do something different,” said teacher Linda Hume, who applied for a grant to fund the program. “I wanted to get them out and do something with the community.”

While Hume felt the visits took off slowly, perhaps due to caution or scheduling conflicts on the part of residents, she was excited to see that the 15 residents who attended Monday’s event,nearly equaled the 18 children present.

“There are residents who really want to read to the children, and there are others who just want to hear the children read to them,” she said. “It’s a combination of whatever the children and residents are feeling at the time.”

Hume hopes to see her students become more comfortable with a number of literacy mediums, including oral communication, public speaking and reading through the 30-minute sessions.

To this end, students perform poetry or other recitations for residents before breaking into small groups to read.

“They get very excited about performing,” she said. “Even my lowest readers and English as a second language students got up there and did it.”

Despite a few mistakes, students’ pressed on without getting embarrassed or upset.

“They got up there and tried, and that’s what I’m trying to instill in them,” she said. “You might make mistakes, but you should get up there and do your best.”

Both the children and the residents have benefited from the interaction.

“When Linda called me, I said ‘Absolutely, let’s go for it,’” said Patty Koval, activity director for The Villa at Suffield Meadows. “I’m amazed by the response we’ve had.”

As far as activities are concerned, Koval said the reading program has almost as many attendees as bingo -– a clear indicator of popularity among residents who turn out in large numbers for the latter event.

Koval believes the inter-generational aspect is one of the program’s most valuable elements.

“We have first graders with people who are 80 and 90 years old, and they can relate and get along so well and the kids are comfortable with them,” she said. “The kids really warmed up.”

At a previous meeting, Koval remembers seeing one resident, a former teacher, sitting on the floor surrounded by children as she read to them.

“I’ve had schools who come and sing, but usually the interaction is not as close as what they’re having here,” she said. “I’m thrilled to see how the kids and the residents have grown comfortable with each other.”

“It was lovely seeing the children and their different personalities,” said resident Cathryn Carter, who read to students for the first time Monday. “I was really looking forward to this, and they seemed to enjoy reading with us and seemed eager and I know we were.”

A $2,000 grant from Target, the largest Hume has ever applied for and received, will cover the cost of transportation to and from The Villa each month through the end of the school year.

The grant also enabled Hume to purchase $800 worth of new materials, including readers’ theater scripts and poetry for use during visits, as well as two portable microphones and stands and a small amplifier that enables residents to better hear students’ performances.

Hume also purchased a video camera to document the program for parents’ review.

“There’s so much money out there, you just need to take the time to research and apply for it,” she said, adding that a little creativity is necessary to tie the project into classroom studies.

According to Greenville Principal Margie Riley, Hume is a grant-writing powerhouse who has obtained several grants for her class or the school this year alone.

“She’s always been working to promote reading with kids...and what a fabulous way to reach out to the community,” Riley said. “The students definitely delight in sharing their reading, and it’s fun for them to see how they can be a special part of a senior citizen’s day.”

Some students said the visits remind them of grandparents who live at a distance.

“I like going because it helps me get better at reading,” said first grader Andrew Curry. “I want to read more poems.

Fellow first grader Bryce McAnany described the visits as “really exciting.”

“Reading out loud isn’t scary, it’s fun,” he said.

Students’ excitement is obvious to both Hume and Riley, who watch them get on the bus each month with barely contained anticipation.

“They come back and you ask how it went and their eyes just sparkle,” Riley said. “You can tell it’s just something they’re really taking to heart.”