Charlotte County Celebrates Literacy!

Florida's Celebrate Literacy Week was officially January 25 - 29, 2010. However, Charlotte County celebrates literacy year round. Students at Kingsway Elementary School, 25 adults and classrooms read, a total of 9,879 books from November through January. A group of 89 juniors and seniors at Lemon Bay High read a total of 181 books from ancient writings, young adult literature, and current best sellers.

PCMS began celebrating with a visit from Poet, Paul Janeczko and had students take part in a writing workshop. Port Charlotte High began celebrating this week with a visit on January 15th from nationally known author, Neal Schusterman. Students in grades 9 - 12 read many of the 39 novels he has published and took part in several question and answer sessions with the writer to discuss writing and story. This is only a fraction of the reading that goes on there. YA Literature is definitely a hot topic at PCHS. In the near future, Charlotte High will host author Carol Plum Ucci and LA Ainger is hosting the Big Read Coffee House/Open Mic Night to celebrate Poe on April 23rd.

Across the district our media centers provide the heartbeat for students engaged in literacy. Literacy includes the use of media technology and students across the district are using technology to support fluency and show comprehension of texts of all types and genres.

Our district office and schools are involved in book studies, the reading of professional books and journals, reflections and grants not to mention a daily dose of emails and proposals. Administrative assistants and staff members share novels, stories, and magazines.

The emphasis on literacy in all its forms is part of the Charlotte County Culture. This week just serves to highlight some of the great learning experiences that occur all the time.