By: Rhonda Kraenzel, DPS Parent Literacy Liaison
In November of this school year, I met with Burton Lewton, Transportation Manager for Harlow’s School Bus Service, to explore the possibility of an engaging literacy experience for DPS bus students. The initial apprehension of implementing this new idea quickly grew into great excitement, and with that we launched my first two “ride alongs” as Rhinestone Rhonda in December. In January, we added two more routes.
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As the student passengers, ranging from Kindergarten to Grade 12 boarded the bus after school, I greeted each one personally, and in return, received many spontaneous smiles. After all students were picked up from their schools, I gave a brief overview to the group of my purpose as a guest on their bus: to remind them of the importance and benefits of reading often, to appreciate the art of storytelling and the benefits of listening to stories, and to inspire them to share books with others and recognize that literacy is a social activity, one to be enjoyed with family and friends.
Students listened to a variety of short stories through a portable sound system during the bus route. Several of the stories I shared came from a collection of entertaining ones my grandmother told me throughout my childhood, which I consider rich in language and imagination.
Amanda Wright, Dispatcher and Router for Harlows provided me with names and grade levels of the bus students. One highlight for me was hearing and seeing the surprised reactions as students listened to a story or two adapted to include their names as characters.
Before departing the bus for the day each student received a book from The Book Corral DPS Sharing.jpg?mask=2)
Library. Included with the book was an invitation to the Book Corral, which is open to all DPS families. Books of all reading levels, birth through adult are available. At this time, the sharing library is located in the School Pantry at The Hagen Building and is open every Tuesday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Additionally, a box of books from The Book Corral has been placed on the rural buses which was initiated by a kindergarten student suggesting a “bus library”. Students are welcome to take a book to read or look at during the route and can return it before getting off the bus or keep it until he/she is finished.
I am so grateful for this unique opportunity to extend our school district’s literacy goals to bus students. The incredible support and enthusiasm from Burt and Amanda to the bus drivers to the students has been a complete delight! I am looking forward to more reading ride alongs. Happy Trails and Happy Reading!