Category: Books

Update: Barb’s Buddies

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Update on Barb’s Buddies:

Wisconsin: On Monday, 50 kits were delivered to Dane County Foster Care. Children in Wisconsin received their $25 gift card, a We Are Creed mug, and candy in their bag. Big thanks to Kristen for running this program!!!

Illinois: This coming Monday, 130 gift cards and notes will be delivered to Our Children’s Homestead for children throughout Northern Illinois. (For safety reasons, other trinkets or candy will not be included this year.)

Arizona: Eventually, our AZ group will help take 50 kids to the bookstore when they feel it’s safe. Since the children live in group homes and COVID rates are high, this adventure has been postponed. Luckily, several boxes of gently used books from IL made their way to Sunshine Residential Homes in February.

This means in 2020, a total of 230 children in foster care will be/have been offered the opportunity to experience a bookstore where they can choose their own books and enjoy some summer reading. For some, this starts the journey to be lifelong readers.On behalf of We Are Creed, thank you to our organizers, donors, note writers, and everyone making this possible!!

We think Barb Dabrowski is smiling down on us as we continue to be Creating Remarkable Effects Every Day.

Volunteer Spotlight: Jennifer

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When we expand our programs to other states, we need a volunteer to see the program from beginning to end. In South Carolina, this person is Jennifer, who is in her second year of coordinating the South Carolina Book Flood program.

When the idea for this organization came around, Jennifer was supportive and offered her assistance immediately. Last year she arranged for books to go to 2 different schools in South Carolina. When we revamped the program this year, she has been working with the SC Book Flood teachers to create and make their Wish Lists and will coordinate their delivery.

We are truly grateful to work with another teacher who is Creating Remarkable Effects Every Day.

More donations! Woohoo!

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Thank you for the book donations for GirlForward! While we are in talks to see if the April event is still on or will be postponed until the June event, we truly appreciate the book donations!

If you have time to read, we highly suggest you check out the books we’ve chosen for this program. Most are listed on this image.

Reading Strategy: Close Reading for Elementary Classrooms

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Close reading has become a key strategy in recent years as teachers encourage students to slow down and interact with their readings. This strategy allows students to create a stronger understanding of the tone, text, form, and analyze at a deeper level.

This anchor chart is a great reminder for elementary classrooms. (We’ll share some middle school ideas soon!)

Image from: https://www.mshouser.com/teachin…/close-reading-anchor-chart

Book Drive Benefits We Are Creed!

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Yesterday, we received boxes of donated books from Cotney Construction Law all the way from Florida! (Only some are pictured; there were so many!)

Cotney Construction Law held a donation drive in their office and sent us a great selection of books. Some of these books will find happy homes in classrooms or in a child’s hands while others may be included in next summer’s book sale.

Thank you so much for sharing the joys of reading!! We are so fortunate to have support from the roofing industry!

A way to give back

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More happy teachers received the books shown in the picture and another box of culturally diverse moves from the SC Book Flood!

A special note from We Are Creed’s President, Stephanie Creed:
“I will forever be indebted to the town of Pelion, South Carolina and Dr. Jowers for taking a chance and hiring a new teacher. Pelion Middle School taught me the joys of teaching, the importance of a community, and a ridiculous amount of life lessons.

Coming from the suburbs of Illinois, this rural location was nothing like my educational experiences. Even more, the poverty and hardships the students and families endured was unexpected, and I was ill-prepared for how to support them. Thanks to a workshop at a conference, a district administrator that I annoyed with my requests for a cohort, and a great professor from Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty at Francis Marion University, I began to understand some of ‘my kids.’ The teachers and students at Pelion Middle School are the reason this organization was started — to support those Creating Remarkable Effects Every Day.

I am overjoyed that Pelion Middle School, my home away from home for many years, was a recipient of the SC Book Flood. I guarantee these books are appreciated and readers will enjoy these donations.”

“Here’s Hank!” Book Series

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Did you know Henry Winkler writes children’s books — in the Dyslexie font, which helps those with dyslexia read? There are 12 books in the series and after reading his latest, “Everybody is Somebody,” I adore him even more! 
This cute book features Hank and his two best friends meeting an author as a welcoming committee when she comes to speak. The bad part? Hank’s struggles with reading means he didn’t finish the book. A very cute and humorous story that second-third graders will enjoy especially if they struggle with reading.

Where did the books and pajamas go?

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We Are Creed donated our Good Night, Sleep Tight Kits to the Pillars Community Health Constance Morris House. Each child and adult surviving domestic violence was gifted a book, a set of pajamas, a mug and hot chocolate, and some candy for Christmas Eve 2018.

In January, we sent Good Night, Sleep Tight kits to a family whose entire home was destroyed in a fire.

As with most of our programs, we are unable to share pictures of our work due to privacy concerns for minors and victims.

We look forward to expanding our programs throughout 2019!