It's a favorite part of summer. With a slower schedule, time opens up to catch up on your reading. You may already know the many benefits of reading. It's relaxing. It can help you sleep. It keeps your brain active. Perhaps most importantly, reading can be fun.
You may also know how deeply the skill of reading can impact a young mind. Students who read more frequently will have greater self-esteem, improved concentration, develop their critical, analytical and memory skills and have a greater vocabulary. All of which will impact their ability to succeed in school and in life.
This summer, Grace UMC is hosting "The Reading Crew" at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. We are inviting 5th and 6th graders to join us every other Monday beginning June 12 from 4-5 PM. We'll talk about the current book and enjoy some snacks and crafts. The program is free. Book choices will be in keeping with the library's summer reading theme, "All Together Now." Our emphasis will be on reading for fun, sharing our ideas and spending time together.
The Reading Crew offers opportunities for you to lend a hand with this summer outreach project. You can join Shauna Long and Pastor Linda to help organize and offer the program. You can provide craft supplies, simple snacks and drinks.
You can provide scholarships for students to purchase their own copies of the books from our reading list. Numerous studies have shown that simply having books in the home offers a huge benefit to students. Reach out to Pastor Linda or Shauna to learn how to provide this support.
We'll wrap up this program by inviting The Reading Crew and our congregation to come together for an evening to share the much-loved story, Charlotte's Web with a brief book-club style conversation followed by popcorn and the movie. Date and time to be announced.
What are some of your memories of summertime reading? What are your favorite books; from back in the day or now? Some of mine from childhood: Marguerite Henry's Misty of Chincoteague and Brighty of the Grand Canyon, and the entire Boxcar Kids series. Most recently, I loved The Ogress and the Orphans, a young persons novel by Kelly Barnhill and I'll read pretty much anything by Jodi Picoult.
Please include The Reading Crew in your prayers. We want to connect with our community in a meaningful way and help build up a love for reading.
Peace,
Pastor Linda
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