Doyle Elementary wins National Book Challenge
The John J. Doyle Elementary second grade class of teacher Natalie Alvarado was excited about being interviewed about their book, “You Can Recycle.”
The book, which was written, designed and illustrated by the class, won the Nationwide Learning National book challenge, in an annual contest from a publishing company in Topeka, Kan., in which more than one million students from 15,000 elementary, middle, high school and colleges participate.
“When the students heard we were finalists in the Nationwide Challenge they were very excited,” Alvarado said, “but when Eileen Fairless, our Master Teacher, walked into our classroom and said she had some news for us, it was very quiet. We had no idea what she was going to say. It took a few minutes before the students realized what she was saying, that we had won the challenge. We were all surprised and very proud that we were chosen as finalists, and now we have won the prize.”
The classroom will receive a $100 scholarship prize besides having their book published on Nationwide Learning’s website www.studentreasures.com, and their Facebook page. The writing enrichment program from Nationwide Learning, Inc, is actually called “Motivating Students to Learn Through Publishing,” and encourages students to write, illustrate and publish full-color, hardbound books for free.
This is indeed an outstanding feat, for the second grade class, “Many who are English learners, and some of them newly assimilated to the United States”, said Rosita Hazen, who was the classroom Instructional Assistant during the book project. “It’s an honor and a privilege to have had a share in the hard work of the second grade. It’s special, because most of the students are English learners.”
The class worked on the project bout a month, Alvarado said. “The whole class said they enjoyed writing the book,” and we learned a lot about recycling. Each of the 23 students in Alvarado’s class illustrated and wrote a page about why recycling is important to the environment.
When asked why they wrote the book, and what the book project meant to them, about ten students raised their hands eagerly, but then they realized that they needed to think out their answers, and were more thoughtful. Marcelina Atilano, 8, said, “Recycling will help our world be clean.”
Another student, Jose Velasco, 8, sitting close by, said, “If everyone recycled, it would help our world and our environment. By picking up everything that you see, like trash. Recycling cans and bottles.”
When the project was completed, Alvarado said that they mailed the book package to the company, and waited for the results.
The students worked on various activities and read many books about recycling, said Alvarado, “I was amazed at how concerned they were about our environment, in fact, that was how I realized our students actually had an interest in the environment, so we wrote, “You Can Recycle.”
When asked about the students and their book, Doyle Principal Lorenzo Cruz was enthusiastic.
“I am a very strong believer in recycling, and we are very happy and proud of Mrs. Alvarado’s second grade class and their accomplishment,” he said.
Cruz went on to say, that personally he recycles all that he can, and that he believes in the three “R’s.” Not “Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic,” he says, chuckling, “Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle. I was brought up that way, because of our economy. It’s similar today.
“If the book helps someone, it will benefit us. The book is not just a great book for our school, it’s a great book for our nation and the world. The concept of recycling is worldwide. Each child had their own idea; ‘This is what I want to recycle.’”
Doyle Vice-principal Carla Crocker, was extremely pleased with the second grade book project.
“Honestly, I think it is inspirational to have students who are learning a second language, and some even acclimating to a new country, write on a topic that is of national concern — protecting our resources. Their teacher, Mrs. Alvarado, has masterfully brought this important topic to a “personal level,” for the children. They are empowered by knowing “they can contribute,” to solving the problem. The kids are so proud to be recognized for their efforts and hard work. It is a powerful motivator to continue their learning.” Crocker said, “If they can do that, then all the students will say, “I can do that, too.”
