2014 Of Wine & Words

Each year, we invite our supporters and friends to join us at Of Wine & Words to raise funds and celebrate TRC’s accomplishments. If you have attended in the past, you know it's a great party. But this year, Of Wine & Words also marks TRC's 25th anniversary celebration.

Join us on Friday, April 4, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. at the Jones Day Rooftop Terrace. Jones Day is located near the Capitol and Union Station and its seventh-floor ballroom offers spectacular views of the Capitol. The VIP reception begins at 6:00 p.m. 

Doreen Gentzler, from the NBC4 News, returns for her second year as emcee. Drinks will flow with tastings and full pours from Arrowine, Lost Rhino Brewing Company and Mad Fox Brewing Company. Food will be provided by Artisan Confections, Circa, Open Road and Trio, Eventide Restaurant, Green Pig Bistro, The Hamilton, Lebanese Taverna, P.F. Chang's and Rosa Mexicana.

The always-popular silent auction offers treats for yourself, outings around town and perfect gifts for the children in your life. You'll be able to bid online starting March 25 by clicking here.

As volunteers whose participation is and always has been central to our programs and history, we hope you'll come and enjoy this evening with us. Tickets for volunteers are discounted at $50. General admission tickets are   $100. VIP reception tickets are $150. Purchase your tickets here.

We are honored to have fantastic sponsors for our 25th anniversary year.

Platinum Sponsors: Berkeley Research Group, The Boeing Company, Capital BookShare, Jones Day, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Turner Construction Company and Westland Printers.

Gold Sponsors: Acumen Solutions, Greenfield/Belser Ltd., Hunton & Williams LLP, Integrated Systems Solutions Inc., Marymount University, Tradition Homes. 

Silver Sponsors: Accenture, Carter Fullerton and Hayes LLC, CEB, Hellerman Baretz Communications LLC.

Bronze Sponsors: BB&T, Jones & McIntyre PLLC, McGinn and Company, New Horizons Computer Learning Centers and 3wilders.

Media Sponsor: Arlington Magazine

Engaging the older crowd

Hello? Am I getting through to you at all?

As a Read-Aloud volunteer for the past four years, I have often found myself asking that question, especially when it comes to holding the attention of some of the older kids. It’s not easy to keep them interested, focused and entertained. The good news is that they have pushed me to be a better volunteer and to stretch beyond the regular Read-Aloud routine. Here are a few things that I've learned.

Nonfiction books are a big draw for older kids. If you can find a subject they like and are knowledgeable about, you may just strike gold. I suggest taking a survey to see what topics interest the older kids. The more they feel involved in the process and the more you can empower them, the more likely they are to actively participate in a Read-Aloud. A few years ago, my reading team had a gifted boy who started acting out as he matured. He would interrupt the readings and instigate poor behavior in the other kids. I realized that he was simply bored. Once we honed in on the subjects he knew about and gave him the opportunity to share that knowledge with the group, we saw a dramatic change. Little did we know that he was a science wizard!


Older children love technology. It can be challenging to incorporate this, but if you are comfortable with it, sharing a video on an iPad or introducing a book on an e-reader can be an easy way to let the kids explore the theme and keep them engaged. On one occasion, my team used an iPad fireplace app to create a “campfire” setting for our outdoors theme. We also used an iPad to show videos of political speeches during a Read-Aloud about the upcoming presidential election. The kids not only ate it up, they also handled the device with great care. 

Kim leads kids at The Berkeley in a game of 
Ninja Simon Says.

Our team has also had success reaching older kids by choosing subjects that relate to their lives. If they can find parallels between the Read-Aloud topic and something they have actually experienced, you will see a more invested kid. That’s also why it is so important to take the time during the reading to talk about the book and to let the kids share some of their own stories. A few years ago we had some baseball players in our group. When we did a baseball theme to kick off spring, the players were delighted to tell us about their own triumphs and visits to the ballpark.

At The Berkeley Read-Alouds, we have a wide age range and often see kids aged 4 and 11 at the same session. Sometimes it helps to pair an older child with a younger one. Putting them in the position of role model or mentor can give that preteen a sense of responsibility and pride. Next time, try teaming up some of the kids during the activity portion of the Read-Aloud.

Finally, there is nothing more important than reinforcing good behavior. The more you can lift them up for doing something good, the more you will both enjoy your time together.

Guest blog post written by TRC volunteer Kim Oates.

To receive credit for this online training, please fill out the form here.

Read Across America

Read Across America Day 2014 is right around the corner! Grab your favorite Seuss tale and get set for some ridiculous, rhyming fun!

Read Across America, normally celebrated on March 2 in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday, is a reading awareness program that calls for every child in every community around the country to celebrate reading. This year, Read Across America Day is Monday, March 3, 2014.

Many of Dr. Seuss' books are text heavy, so be sure to pick a book that will keep your crowd engaged until the end. Take advantage of Dr. Seuss' rollicking, zany style when reading aloud: whisper and shout, speed up and slow down and emphasize rhyme and rhythm.

If your audience ranges from three to eight years old, try these Seuss books:

Green Eggs and Ham
Trying something new can be a little scary. Ask the kids what they think makes Sam-I-Am change his mind. For a snack, green hard-boiled eggs are always a winner!

If I Ran the Zoo 
What weird animals can the kids come up with? Encourage them draw pictures, make up names and introduce their animal creation to everyone else.

Fox in Socks 
Be sure to practice reading this collection of rhymes and tongue twisters before your Read-Aloud. As you are reading, get the kids into the act by encouraging them to say the rhymes and tongue twisters with you. This one is especially fun:

"When a fox is in the bottle where the tweetle beetles battle with their paddles in a puddle on a noodle-eating poodle, THIS is what they call...a tweetle beetle noodle poodle bottled paddled muddled duddled fuddled wuddled fox in socks, sir!"

If THAT won't get them to laugh, then NOTHING will!

If the group at your Read-Aloud trends older (say eight years old and up) try learning about the man who was Dr. Seuss. Read The Boy on Fairfield Street to see how Theodor Geisel became Dr. Seuss. 

For the more advanced readers in your group, you could try reading one of Seuss' more complex books like The Lorax or The Sneetches. After reading, discuss the undertones of social change in the stories.

The Seussville website's Read Across America page has fun activities and printable props to help you plan your event. If you want more interactive activities, try these carnival-style Seuss games from the obSEUSSed blog. Check out these Seuss-related blog posts on Belle of the Book for even more ideas.

The fact that Read Across America Day is a national effort to celebrate reading may appeal to kids--so make sure they know about it, and know that they're part of something BIG. 


To receive credit for this online training, please fill out the form here.

Get up and dance!

When dealing with squirmy kids, sometimes the best move is just to get up and move with them! A dance-themed Read-Aloud is a wonderful choice -- dancing is a healthy, fun activity and there are great books available about dance, music and movement with which to create a dance-themed Read-Aloud. 

Teams at ARHA Ruby Tucker Center and Virginia Gardens recently held dance-themed Read-Alouds. Each team brought in special guests to introduce new dance styles to the kids.

At ARHA, Team 4 began its dance day with a participatory song about Miss Susie. The singing and hand movements grabbed the children’s attention right away and led into a successful reading time. Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae and Elephants Cannot Dance! by Mo Willems set the stage by presenting two characters (both, oddly, named Gerald!) who believed they could not dance, but discovered they really could. 

ARHA was lucky to have Katy Baytosh, a guest dance instructor, who led everyone through several African- and Caribbean-style dances. The children were excited, engaged and excellent dancers. And the volunteers got a bit of a workout too!

Virginia Gardens volunteers invited special guests from Tobas Dinastía, a local dance group. “Tobas” is an energetic dance that originates from Bolivia and represents the victory of the hunt. The dancers wear colorful, exotic costumes – including feathered headdresses and spears. The volunteers talked with the kids about the importance of dance in different cultures and gave examples of ways it can be used to honor cultural heritage. The team also   read books that highlighted culturally significant dances. The guests performed Tobas for the children and then taught them some steps. A highlight of the night was when the kids were allowed to touch the dancers’ spears (fake, of course!) and  wear their headdresses. 

Dance is universal. As a theme, it offers opportunities to express emotions, social interaction and cultural pride – and even get the squirmies out! 

Here is a list of books that would work well for a Read-Aloud about dance.  

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

Elephants Cannot Dance! by Mo Willems

Kitchen Dance by Maurie J. Manning

Song and Dance Man by Karen Ackerman

Brothers of the Knight by Debbie Allen

Dance! by Elisha Cooper

Rosie’s Ballet Slippers by Susan Hampshire

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle

The Jellybeans and the Big Dance by Laura Numeroff

Cats’ Night Out by Caroline Stutson

The Day We Danced in Underpants  by Sarah Wilson

Dumpy La Rue by Elizabeth Winthrop

To receive credit for this online training, please fill out the form here.

Author Profile: Don and Audrey Wood

Husband-and-wife team Don and Audrey Wood have created many picture books together, individually and with their son, Bruce. Their lush illustrations, rollicking rhymes and rhythmic pacing and repetition make many of their works perfect for reading aloud.

Their website has lots of interesting information and useful resources. You’ll find biographies of them, activities and videos for their books, as well as a “secrets” tab that provides intriguing backstory for some of their books.

Here are some of our favorites for young children

The Napping House
Probably the Woods' most famous book, this cumulative tale pairs repetition with detailed illustrations to describe a quiet house “where everyone is sleeping.” That is, of course, until they are not. Little kids will want to chime in and list the nappers, as well as search the illustrations for the tiny flea hiding in nearly every picture.

Piggies and Silly Sally

Wacky illustrations, repetition (Piggies) and rhyme (Silly Sally) invite kids to participate by wiggling their fingers, acting out the story, finishing predictable lines and words or predicting what will come next.

King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub

Little kids will love this silly spin on bath time. When the king stays in the bathtub all day, the court doesn’t know what to do. A perfect book for making connections to a small child’s daily experiences (bath time, learning about time) talking about the time of day (morning, noon, afternoon, evening, night), King Bidgood also provides an excellent example of a kid solving a problem when adults fail.

Books that work with young and older kids

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear

Simple text and big pictures make this a quick and fun read-aloud for the pre-K set. Older kids can explore the emotions of the mouse, the motives of the narrator and the existence of a bear.


Quick as a Cricket

Little ones will love acting out the phrases in this book. With older kids, explore the many facets of one’s personality or introduce the concept of similes.

Blue Sky

This nearly wordless book encourages readers to notice the changing moods and drama of our sky. Younger listener will like the progression from day to night. Older ones might like to imagine and draw their own skies.

For the more sophisticated listener

Heckedy Peg

An original fairy tale based on a 16th century game involves seven kids, a mom, a witch and a riddle. Audrey was the model for the mom and Don was the model for the witch. 


Weird Parents

Kids, especially preteens, will relate to this story about a boy who wishes his parents weren’t so weird. It would be a great addition to a Read-Aloud about feelings, families or not fitting in.

This list only scratches the surface of the books the Woods have created. Check out your local library for more titles and experience the talent and versatility of this creative pair.

To receive credit for this online training, please fill out the form here.

Great Expectations

Reducing stress is a New Year’s resolution we can all get behind. Reducing stress and anxiety that kids may feel at a TRC Read-Aloud will make the experience more fun and engaging for everyone involved.


One way to cut down on stress is to focus on consistency. Knowing what to expect from day to day can reduce stress and anxiety. Take your morning routine for example. On days when you wake up refreshed, have your coffee, know where your keys are, hit green lights all the way and find a perfect parking space, you feel great. On days when you sleep through your alarm, discover you're out of coffee, can’t find your keys and learn the metro is delayed, you are thrown off for most of the morning and are likely in an unhappy mood.

Now put yourself in a TRC kid’s shoes. Their lives are very unpredictable and stressful. Kids have even less control over their days than adults do, and TRC kids encounter more stressful situations than the average kid. Who knows what their days are like before they get to you at the Read-Aloud?

So what can you do to mitigate their stress? You can provide stability and consistency. You can set up positive expectations and help kids fulfill them. Try these six easy steps:

Be Prepared!
Make a plan with your fellow volunteers. Come prepared to read, talk, do activities and have fun. Planning your Read-Aloud in advance not only makes for a better reading experience, it shows respect and understanding for the kids we serve. When you don’t prepare in advance, you let the kids down.

Use the Promises.
Show the promises and talk through them at the beginning of every Read-Aloud. If necessary, remind kids about them and enforce them during the Read-Aloud. That can mean helping a kid one on one, providing opportunities to turn a situation around, or sending a kid home from a Read-Aloud with the expressed hope that they’ll come back next week and be able to participate in a positive way.



Keep to the TRC Read-Aloud format.
If every team does basically the same thing in the same order every time, the kids will be more calm and better able to participate self-sufficiently. Greet kids, do name tags, review promises, read as a big group, read in small groups, do the activity, choose books, go home.

If you are going to change the format, tell the kids at the beginning of the Read-Aloud. Explain to them how the evening will go. For example, if you are doing a craft using glue or paint that needs time to dry between steps and want to do the activity first, tell the kids. “Today we’re reading all about sail boats. We’re going to make a sail boat first so it will have time to dry while we read. Tonight will go like this: Promises, glue boats, read in big group, read in little groups, paint boats and then choose books.”


Feed the kids. 
Research has demonstrated that hunger affects a kid’s ability to learn:

“When students experience poor nutrition…it is harder for them to listen, concentrate and learn…Poor diets also affect behavior. Students can often appear listless (with low energy) or hyperactive (on a sugar high).”
 How Poverty Affects Classroom Engagement by Eric Jensen in Educational Leadership, May 2013

If the kids at your Read-Aloud haven’t been fed dinner or given a snack by an after-school program right before the Read-Aloud, give them a healthy snack at the beginning of the Read-Aloud, if allowed by the site. We’ve had success doing this during the large group reading at the beginning of a session. A snack settles the kids down and provides some calories to quiet rumbling tummies and fuel learning.


Model positive behavior.
You need to walk the talk. You need to be the change you want to see in the kids. That means being patient, calm, respectful, accommodating, understanding, consistent and humorous. The Promises apply to you too.


Have positive expectations and make them known. 
Kids are smart and perceptive. How you see them and expect them to behave (as smart, creative, enthusiastic readers or not) will filter through to them. 

Help the kids buy into expectations by involving them in creating site-specific behavioral expectations. You can do this at your Read-Aloud by extending a discussion of the TRC Promises. At Sullivan House recently, this discussion happened naturally and the kids came up with their own expectations that more fully described what the Promises mean to them.

Here's an outline for a Read-Aloud about expectations, behavior and consequences. Try it out with the kids at your site!

Knowing what to expect from an experience and what others expect from them creates an environment where kids can participate fully and exercise their independence in a constructive way. By reducing stress for the kids, you are setting them up to succeed. And that's a great expectation.


To receive credit for this online training, please fill out the form here.

Holiday shopping

Are you still looking for the perfect gift for the kids and adults on your list? Lucky for you, The Reading Connection (TRC) is here to help.

Books are a great gift for kids of all ages. Build a love of reading from the very start by giving infants and toddlers board books that were made just for them. Board books can stand up to the heavy love that babies give them.  They are resistant to tears and being chewed on, since their pages are made of cardboard.

Picture books can appeal to young people from toddlers and teens, depending on their design and content. Take the time to read through a picture book that catches your eye. You might be surprised at the wit or depth contained therein. Don't hesitate to ask a bookseller to recommend her favorite titles for the children you have in mind. 

"Early readers" are designed to help beginning and newly independent readers feel confident reading on their own. You'll know these books by the distinctive 6-inch by 9-inch size. Reading books on favorite subjects is a strong motivator for new readers; it's well worth your time to seek out early readers on your young reader's current passion. 

Novels and nonfiction books for older kids come in all shapes and sizes. Find out what gets your recipient fired up and go from there.  Some kids will want the newest book in their favorite series, and these series are available for all ages (one current favorite is Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck). Ask a booksellers advice about the best choices for the age and interests of the child for whom you're buying. 

For the readers on your list, check out the many lists of top books of the year. Some of our favorites from this year are

Picture books: The Day the Crayons Quit and Xander’s Panda Party

Early readers: National Geographic Readers

Middle grade: Wonder and One Crazy Summer

Young adult: Allegiant and The 5th Wave

You can also find year-end recommendations at Goodreads and Indie Bound or on our wish list.  When buying books, please support your local independent bookstores, who support TRC.

Consider honoring friends and family who love books by helping to provide free books and literacy-rich experiences for at-risk kids and families. A $10 donation to The Reading Connection can purchase and deliver a book to the home of one of our Book Club kids.