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For many years, the Texas Retired Teachers Association has directed a state-wide book project of giving books to students to take home. The Allen chapter (AREA) has always participated in this endeavor.
For many of these children, this is a new experience since they have never had a book of their own. For this year’s project, AREA selected Boyd Elementary. From September through January, the organization raised money. The major portion of the funds came from internal contributions. The group also held a fund raiser at Barnes & Noble Book Store in December by wrapping presents for contributions. More than $1,400 was raised to purchase books.
Two years ago the group also became involved in the Dictionary Project, which puts dictionaries in the hands of school children. The decision was made by AREA’s Board to give every third grade student in the selected school a paperback dictionary which he/she can use throughout his/her school career. The money raised for the book project is used to purchase these dictionaries as well.
The year’s hard work was realized at Boyd Elementary on Friday, April 10. Twenty-three volunteers arrived to distribute 445 books and 112 dictionaries. Each classroom also receives a book to keep in the room. One special story that was told by one of the volunteers clearly reveals the reason AREA loves to be a part of such an incredible project. She was reading the classroom book to a group of fifth graders. It was a book about a boy who moved over the summer, and the first neighbor he met was a little deaf girl. In the story, when the little girl “signed” her name; so did the volunteer because she knows sign language. One child immediately called out what she had said and that he knew the girl was deaf. It turns out that his mother is deaf also. It is a great reminder that books teach us so much about life, ourselves, our families, our friendships. Being able to bring a book into the life of a child is a great reward for a retired teacher. Members of Allen Retired Educators Association always appreciate the opportunity to encourage children to read.
