Athletes as Readers and Leaders Program at College of San Mateo

Check out this beautiful student video about the College of San Mateo version of CSLA's best practice, Athletes as Readers and Leaders.

Film student Alex King created the video project for the College of San Mateo Digital Media Department.  His campus customers were Library Director Lorrita Ford and Child Development Center Director Louise Piper.  Last year, Lorrita took the program concept and "shopped" it with Louise and campus athletic leaders.  The rest is history. For other samples of Alex King's films, see A.K. Film Production and Editing.

At CSLA's conference exhibit, "The Doctor is IN" partnership advice booth, the Athletes as Readers and Leaders program was a popular example of a wonderful and rewarding partnership program.  See the "how to" tutorial at athletereadersleaders.csla.net/ -- Thanks go to program creator Napa Valley Schools Director of Library Services, Kate McMillan. Be sure to click on the link to Kate's high energy animoto music video.

Read. Know. Grow. - Graphic Design

Years ago, when I was a part of a Mother-Daughter Book Club, I bought a set of dark green coffee mugs with a girl reading. The style of the art was white on dark green, but it could have been on any dark color. Loved the style. So, it is no surprise that I experimented with the design for my "wildcard" assignment during my Adobe Illustrator course. Check it out -- I added technology, a boy, and more books for them to read. Next, maybe I'll try a design to promote Athletes as Readers and Leaders.

Orientation for Athletes as Readers and Leaders

This week was orientation week for College of San Mateo student athletes who have signed up to read to young children who attend the campus child care center. The program, Athletes as Readers and Leaders, got off to a great start when two women basketball players toured the child care center. A young boy came up to them and told them that basketball was a guy's sport. He was shocked and totally confused when the girls said they were on the Womans Basketball Team. Apparently, stereotypes are formed very early.

Child Care Services Coordinator Louise Piper, Library Director Lorrita Ford, Woman's Basketball Coach Michelle Warner, and Library Support Specialist Bryan Gerbig kicked off the CSM Athletes as Readers and Leaders Project on May 13 and 14, with a tour and orientation of the Mary Meta Lazarus Child Development Center. CSM athletes will read picture books to children to encourage reading and open a dialog about the importance of sports, exercise and academics. The program will also help athletes appreciate their influence as role models. The program get into full swing over the Summer 2010 Semester.

The program is modeled after the CSLA Athletes as Readers and Leaders program, which was developed by Kate MacMillan in Napa Valley, CA.

College of San Mateo Announces Athletes as Readers and Leaders Program

The College of San Mateo has announced that it is starting an Athletes as Readers and Leaders* program. Page three of the CSM Library's Spring 2010 issue of its newsletter, "Bulldog's Bookcase" announced: "Coming Soon! Child Care Services Coordinator Louise Piper, Library Director Lorrita Ford, Head Football Coach Bret Pollack and Library Support Specialist Bryan Gerbig recently met to kick off planning for the CSM Athletes as Readers and Leaders Project. CSM athletes will read picture books to children in the Child Development Center to encourage reading and open a dialog about the importance of sports, exercise and academics. The program will also help athletes appreciate their influence as role models."

*Athletes as Readers and Leaders is a program endorsed and promoted by the California School Library Association. CSLA is delighted to see the "best practice" embraced by the College of San Mateo.

ANIMOTO School Library Program Video

Napa Valley School District Librarian Kate MacMillan created an ANIMOTO to showcase the 2008/09 school library program. What a powerful, free, and fun idea for promoting the school library program! Check out the high-energy video (below). It is not too late -- you can do it too! What words and images will be in your ANIMOTO?

Athletes Show Strengths as Reading Mentors

Fresno's Central High School has a new class of athletes trained as reading mentors. Teacher Librarian Janet Melikian has trained 15 high school athletes to read to groups of Central Unified School District elementary students, and lead discussions about healthy diets and exercising. [See photo by Eric Paul Zamora from Fresno Bee.] Members of the football team, led by Grizzlies quarterback D.J. Tate and offensive lineman Joe Cisneros are "coached" by Teacher Librarian Janet Melikian, who:

• Helps the high school students polish their reading-aloud skills
• Advises them on how to steer discussions with the younger kids to nutrition and fitness.
• Selects sports- and fitness-related picture books appropriate for 1st-3rd grade and purchased with funds donated by the athletic department.

Two of America's top issues are related to increasing literacy and healthy kids. Janet's initiative tackles both by empowering high school athletes to be role models for younger students. This is another example of an "Athletes as Readers and Leaders" program, but the first I've seen that adds a healthy eating component. Young students are left with the message to "keep our grades up and stay healthy." Kudos to athletes and coaches of Central High!

Library as a solution: literacy, youth leadership, healthy kids (youth obesity)

Football Stars Read - Athletes as Readers and Leaders

Several years ago, Napa Valley Unified School District Librarian Kate MacMillan started a program for school athletes to read to younger children and to talk about the importance of reading. The Athletes as Readers and Leaders program was featured in February 2009 on the Napa Football News website. Kate said "when Troy Mott, the Napa High football coach, told me that the article had been posted on the Napa High Football Website, I couldn't resist sending this link. I think it shows how our coaches believe in the importance of the student athlete as a role model for younger students. This year we have also involved the sports leadership class at Vintage high school in the program and hope to include more athletes from different sports. In addition, our videographer films and edits the visits to show on our local education cable station."

Kate was able to get a small grant for the picture books. She says "The players take the book home and practice before they read…. Also Coach Mott has the players include this activity in college and scholarship applications." This is a wonderful win-win-win-win model. Kudos to Kate, coach, and kids.

Library as a solution: literacy, youth leadership