People of the Book Literacy Project

Throughout the centuries, we have been known as the "people of the book." Our love of learning, our respect for the written word, our love of books, all have been an integral part of our tradition. We are not only commanded to learn, but also to teach. We are commanded to share our love of learning with others, to share our respect for knowledge with others, to share our relationship with books with others. (Rabbi Steven Chester, 1998)

Temple Sinai's People of the Book Literacy Project was founded in the spring of 1998 with the mission of helping Oakland's schoolchildren learn to love reading and books. We partner with three elementary schools in the Oakland Unified School District: Santa Fe School, Lazear School, and Think College Now.

We work toward our mission in many ways:

• More than 30 tutors meet with over 70 students each week throughout the school year.
• Library volunteers help in the schools by processing and shelving donated books. (We have stocked four school libraries with attractive, quality books.) We give many books to classrooms and hold several school-wide book giveaway events each year.
• Teen volunteers provide academic help and companionship at an after-school homework center at Lazear School.
• Over the years, our volunteers have visited classes to read stories as well as to provide art and music enrichment. We have donated supplies for schoolwork, sports, and art projects.
• With our congregation's generous cash donations we have bought microscopes for a science class; arranged author assemblies and school-wide magazine subscriptions; purchased books, reading incentives like bookmarks and classroom materials; and have donated carpeting, posters, and beanbag chairs for libraries.
• In cooperation with other groups (including Temple Sinai's Social Action Committee), we also have provided much needed social services - arranging delivery of 150 bags of food a week to one school, conducting a holiday Adopt-a-Family project as well as a food drives for the winter break, and making school-site improvements as part of the Temple's annual Mitzvah Day project.

The People of the Book Literacy Project is helping to bring about change in the Oakland community - and at the same time, it also provides a great sense of satisfaction to its volunteers.

In both 2004 and 2005, California State Assemblywoman Wilma Chan honored the People of the Book Project for "outstanding commitment and community service to the students of the Oakland Unified School District."

Here's what others are saying:

Tutor Quotes:

• "At the end of the school year, my young student dug into his pack back and pulled out a pencil as a going away gift, presented it with a hug and said 'please, please take me next year.'"
• "I just love working in this program. I feel that I can make a difference in a child's life."
• "This is one of the most fun things I do all week."
• "My student made great progress and became an enthusiastic reader."
• "[My student] is making good progress. We worked after school on his big research paper. He stayed on task for 1 1/2 hours - a major breakthrough. Thank you, thank you. I really enjoy my time at the school."

Educator Quotes:

• "The students have improved SO MUCH! I'm happy. I think this program is a valuable service. Please continue."
• "My student is definitely speaking and reading more English, and I think his work with his tutor has been key."
• "You need a human being who cares and has some knowledge about how to work with and relate to the child. Children learn when they feel safe."
• "The presence of Temple Sinai is the single most important thing about [our school]."
• "The tutor has been a bright spot in the week for us. She is very talented working with students."

Student Quotes:

• "Thank you because you come and help kids that need help just like me. You guys are the best."
• "You have given us your wonderful heart. You are so much fun. Thank you for everything."
• "I was with Mrs. Mary. I want to be with her again but I do not need the help. She helped me so much and I got it and I am happy for that."
• "I love reading with my tutor; you can't give her a different student!"
• "Can I keep this book for my very own?" (about a new book at one of our book giveaways)
• To a tutor: "Why do you only come on Tuesdays? Can't you come more days than that?"
• "I love being in the library. It feels so safe here."

Share your time, your books, your ideas - or make a generous gift! There are many ways you can help.

1. Spend time with children. A love of reading and of children is the only requirement!

We need:

• Reading tutors and substitutes
• Classroom volunteers and storytellers
• Math tutors
• After-school helpers (high school juniors and seniors)

Tutors meet once a week with students; substitutes are needed as well. No teaching experience is necessary, and both books and training are provided.

For information about tutoring at Santa Fe School, contact Lois Clauson (482-4632 or lois.clauson at comcast dot net) or Judy Stettner (339-1049 or jstett at ix.netcom dot com).

For information about tutoring at Lazear School, contact Mary Nelson (428-0514 or marylindanelson at aol dot com).

To learn more about helping in the after school program, contact Hannah Holtzman (409-6678 or hannah220 at gmail dot com), Elaya Jenkins-Adelberg (553-1033 or minapina03 at aol dot com), or Beth Hurwich (654-9669 or bhurwich at comcast dot net).

2. Help make our school libraries great places for kids to hang out! If you can't tutor every week but want to do something for the literacy project, there are plenty of ways to help make our libraries beautiful, comfortable, and user-friendly. Even an hour or two a month can go a long way - and no library training is necessary!

• Temple Sinai volunteers meet every Friday from 10:30-12:30. Drop in and join us!
• We hold several book giveaways each year at Santa Fe, Lazear, and Think College Now. Join the fun and help us at one of these special events.

For information about helping the libraries, call or email Jean Stein (654-2772 or treehouse16 at sbcglobal dot net).

3. Don't have time to help out in the schools? You can still contribute to Oakland literacy with your gifts!

• Donate books! We need new or gently used children's books (in good condition only, please!) - suitable for pre-K through 5th grade students. Paperbacks go directly to students at book giveaways. Leave them in the book bins in the Temple foyer, across from the office.
• Give money to the People of the Book Literacy Project. Your donations go directly to the schools!
• Commemorate a special event, such as a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, a wedding, birth, or birthday, with a gift of books or money. Or make a memorial donation in honor of someone who loved reading.

For general information about People of the Book Literacy Project, contact Judy Zollman (653-9112 or readerjz at aol dot com).