A special project at Lowndes High School is helping older students share the gift of reading with young English language learners.

Students of Joy Cowart’s high school ELL class surprised a group of Parker Mathis students with several children’s books, all written by the teens in Cowart’s class and illustrated and copied by other Lowndes High Students. Intended to encourage the English language among students from Spanish-speaking homes, the project was supported through a LEIF grant and teachers within the Lowndes system.

“After studying the elements of literature, my high school students became authors and wrote children’s books for other ELL students in the system,” said Cowart. “Students used their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills to accomplish this project. Because of this LEIF grant, my ELL students were able to participate in various learning experiences in order to immerse them in the English language.”

Making it a complete school project, LHS art students illustrated the books, and the graphic arts department helped to create and bind copies of each of the stories.

The Parker Mathis students were happy to receive their books Friday, which included the names of characters and places each of them was familiar with. Several of the older students began reading their books immediately, while younger ones looked through the pictures and were eager to take them home.

“My sister Brenda is 14 and she goes to Lowndes High, and she wrote my book and read it with me at home,” said Litzy Franisco, 6. “It was fun reading with her.”

Abel Zapato, 8, already has several books in his home collection, and sees reading as a fun tool to learning the English Language.

“My book was about a bird named Diego who had to find a house, so he had to go back to Mexico. On the way, he met another bird, they became friends and lived together,” Abel said. “I like reading. That’s how I learn to speak English.”

LHS student Nelly Cruz, 16, often reads to her younger siblings and is glad to have completed a book that will help other youngsters learn English.

“It’s an awesome experience to help others like me to learn English,” said Cruz. “We need to encourage them to read and learn the English language and to get an education.”

Cowart works with ELL students throughout the Lowndes system, and believes the project was beneficial to each age group involved. As she continues working to help ELL students increase their English skills, she hopes each generation will, “choose to make a difference in future generations of English language learners,” Cowart said.

“This summer, these same books will be read to children at LAMP in a reading seminar presented by members of Leadership Lowndes Class of 2007, and copies of the children’s books will be given to migrant students within the Lowndes County School System.”

Students were also given a Golden Book and DVD, made possible through the LEIF grant and the donations of Hahira Middle School faculty members Rita Norman and Linda Reaves and Parker Mathis’ Christy Hamilton and Brenda Humphrey.

“Through the grant and donations, many children’s books, videos and DVD’s were sent home with our ELL students in order to immerse them in the English language at home. Also, many inexpensive videos and DVD’s were purchased for the schools, and students can check these out to be taken home,” said Cowart. “By incorporating books into the curriculum that students can listen to and read at the same time, students’ English language skills can advance. This is the only English my students are exposed to when they get home in the afternoons.”

Anyone interested in donating children’s books, DVD’s or videos to Gift of Reading project may contact Joy Cowart by e-mail at jcowart@lowndes.k12.ga.us. For information about the summer reading programs at the South Georgia Regional Library, call 229-333-0086.