Project C.H.A.N.C.E.

Student spotlight on Warner's four ‘WHYY I Like to Read' finalists

Pike Creek, Del. -

Four Warner Elementary School students were recently honored for their scholarly work in the "WHYY I Like This Book" contest.

The students - Zion Buchanan, Monee Gulamali, Moriah Lewis and Ondia Smith, all of Wilmington - were finalists in the book program, which promotes a lifelong love of reading for students of all levels throughout the Delaware Valley, WHYY senior publicist Brian Rossiter said.

The students were featured in WHYY-TV spots where they spoke in detail about the books they read. They were also honored at a ceremony held Dec. 6 at WHYY.

Notable
All of the students came from the Project C.H.A.N.C.E. program, a program for at-risk students at Warner. (C.H.A.N.C.E. stands for Children's Health Achievement Nutrition and Community Empowerment.) Gulamali, a fifth-grader when she participated in the WHYY project, is now a sixth-grader at Talley Middle School in Brandywine.
Project C.H.A.N.C.E. provides extra help before and after school for Warner Elementary School students, Director Virginia E. Lacy said. It starts with the basics, such as dinner after school, so that students can then focus on academics. The project aims to improve English and math skills, improve school attendance and reduce school suspension rates, Lacy said.
"We've got books, books, books all over the place," Lacy said. "That's the main thing they do when they come in the morning. If they didn't finish their homework, they get it done or they read a book. Then, one of the teachers will take the book and ask them questions about what they read."

What they said about the books they chose
Buchanan enjoyed "Shh, We're Writing the Constitution" by Jean Fritz. "I wanted to read and I told my teacher, Mr. [Harold] Pritchett, that I wanted to be president of the United States," he said. "He gave me the book and said, ‘Read this and you'll know all the rules about being the president of the United States.' It amazed me."

Gulamali discussed "Absolutely Normal Chaos" by Sharon Creech.   "It was very interesting," she said. "There was drama and it was kind of educational. I like books like that."

Lewis chose "Peanut Butter and Jelly" by Nadine Bernard Wescott as her book. Why? "I was hungry and I like peanut butter and jelly," she said. "It's the truth."

Smith told viewers why she likes "Arthur's Eyes" by Marc Brown. "It reminds me of when I had glasses. Arthur had glasses," she said.

What they got out of the experience
"It helps us with our fluency and our education," Smith said.
"And we learn how fast or slow we need to read it to understand," Lewis said.
Gulamali and Buchanan thought about the longer-term effects.
"It's going to take us somewhere high in our lives," Gulamali said.
"It encourages you to have faith in yourself and have confidence in your reading," Buchanan said.

What's next
WHYY received a $45,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation to support the third year of the "WHYY I Like This Book." The Verizon Foundation also supported the first two years of the program. This is Warner's second year participating.

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Project C.H.A.N.C.E. four finalist