The Big Read Creates Readers, Writers, Artists, & Rappers

This year’s Sauk Valley Big Read gave DPS students the opportunity to be readers, writers, artists, and rappers as they participated in various activities associated with The Call of the Wild by Jack London and Akiak by Robert Blake.  The Big Read is a program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and in cooperation with Arts Midwest “designed to restore reading to the center of American culture” (“About the Big Read”).  The Sterling Public Library applied for the Big Read grant to promote reading in the Sauk Valley.  Schools and public libraries in the area received books and other materials from the grant.
At Washington School, Mrs. Brantner read the book, Akiak by Robert Blake to each class during their library visit.  She also talked to the students about the Iditarod dog sled race.  Students especially loved learning about the dogs and appreciated the large stuffed dog that sat with them as they listened to the story.

At Lincoln School, Akiak was also read to the students by Mrs. Pauser and several teachers.  During their weekly library visit students learned about the history of the Iditarod and had the opportunity to check out more books about the subjects introduced in Akiak.  Students also completed coloring sheets for a community coloring contest that took place during the Child’s Fair at Sauk Valley Community College on March 27, 2010.
At Jefferson School, Mrs. Tchosik’s class completed a novel study of The Call of the Wild, Ms. Jorzak’s class listened to the audio book, and Mrs. Morse used The Call of the Wild with two of her reading groups.  Mrs. McConnell read Akiak to all of the classes during their library visits and students completed sled dog themed coloring sheets.
At Reagan Middle School, students in the challenge language arts classes of Mrs. Bushman, Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Countryman, and Mrs. Renkes all read and discussed The Call of the Wild during class.  Mrs. Countryman and Mrs. Renkes also held lunchtime book discussion groups.  Additionally, Mrs. Ford's sixth grade students each completed entries for one of the three community-wide Big Read competitions in the areas of poetry, short story writing, and photography.  Three RMS poetry entries were sent to the community competition and Erika Renkes was the overall winner for the middle school division.  Seventh graders in Mrs. Countryman's challenge class wrote and performed Rap Music about The Call of the Wild. They also wrote poetry about each dog in the book.  Mrs. Renkes' eighth graders compared each dog's personality to their owners' personalities. They also held a debate about whether or not Jack London was a "nature-faker" as President Roosevelt claimed.
At Dixon High School, students in Mr. Padilla's, Mrs. Driver's, and Mr. Luther's English classes read and discussed The Call of the Wild.  Several of Mr. Padilla's students also completed entries for the short story and poetry competitions and attended a book discussion group about the book at the Dixon Public Library.
Programs such as the Big Read allow entire communities to become involved in reading and discussing the same book.  The Sterling Public Library has already applied for next year's Big Read grant for stories and poems by Edgar Allen Poe.  If they receive the grant, activities will start next October.  DPS teachers who are interested in participating with their classes should contact Kathleen Jacobs at Dixon High School.  Congratulations to the Dixon Public School community for making this year's Big Read the most widely participated yet!
RMS Big Read Poetry Contest Finalists:  Jacqueline Fazekas & Jazzarae McGlown
RMS Big Read Poetry Contest Winners:  Mackenzie Barnhart, Katie Hammitt, & Erika Renkes
DHS Big Read Poetry Contest Finalists:  Jordin Faley, Alyssa Moser, & Samantha Sneek
DHS Big Read Poetry Contest Winners:  Rebecca Hatheway, Tess Lally, & Hannah Sharkey
DHS Big Read Short Story Contest Winners:  Brian Guttman & Kristin Swanson
“About the Big Read.” The Big Read. National Endowment for the Arts, 2009. Web. 26 Mar. 2010. <http://www.neabigread.org/.php>.