“I can only read when it’s quiet so I thought it was important for the children to have a quiet place to sit and enjoy a book.”

Bennett Holthaus about her Girl Scout Gold Award Project

The Reading Room is on the third floor, tucked in the front corner of our building. It was transformed into an oasis to enjoy literature. The outdoor theme includes beautiful butterflies, ladybugs, flowers, and a white picket fence. It is one of the academic pieces that makes up our Academic and Creative Enrichment (ACE) extended day classes.

As part of her Gold Award Project, Bennett, supported by her parents and brother, worked diligently for several months to prepare the room for our students. Bennett painted, hung pictures, purchased chairs and comfy pillows. An abundance of children’s picture books, chapter books, puzzles and stuffed animals were donated, thanks to Bennett and her friends.

Walking into the Reading Room during ACE will assuredly bring a smile to the face of any bibliophile (well, really, anyone!). The children lean against pillows on the couch, stretch out on the rugs, or sit in a comfy chair as they take part in something special, a read aloud.

Among one of the most treasured books in my collection, is Jim Trelease’s The Read-Aloud Handbook, not just because it categorizes some of the greatest pieces of literature for children, but because of the insightful facts Trelease lays out on the development and benefits of literacy. According to Trelease, a child spends 900 hours a year in school and 7,800 hours outside of school.

This is a particularly important statistic, especially when we take Wilbur Schramm’s “Fraction of Selection” into account. Trelease uses Schramm’s theory in his sixth edition of The Read-Aloud Handbook to explain why some people read and a lot and others read very little. Distractions, lack of print, lack of time, and lack of quiet space are several factors that inhibit reading.

Well, this special space that Bennett created is quiet, inviting and full of literature. I’d say it’s the perfect space to address the Fraction of Selection. And from what I understand about Gold Award Projects, they have to reach out into the community and should have a lasting impact. The former was accomplished and we have begun the work to achieve the latter!