ESC Students bring Stories to Life at The SWFL Reading Festival
Mar 21, 2011
March 17, 2011
Edison State College Students bring Stories to Life at The SWFL Reading Festival
Edison State College students will bring stories to life at the Southwest Florida Reading Festival this weekend. A group of 16 students from the School of Education and the College Prep program will perform several stories for the Readers’ Theater in the Storytelling Tent this Saturday at the Southwest Florida Reading Festival. The group is part of more than 30 Edison State students and faculty volunteering at the Festival.
The students have prepared for months to prepare the story-telling performances that thrive on audience participation. Each group selected a story line that will get kids actively involved with bringing the story to life. Selections include The Five Little Monkeys, There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and The Tall Tall Grass.
“I have been taking my daughter to the reading festival since she was 8 years old. Now she is a freshman in high school!” exclaimed Nancy Shilatz, a Middle Grades Language Arts major at Edison State. “It was something we looked forward to each year so I am thrilled to be able to volunteer this year by representing Edison State.”
Storytelling Tent
Outside Harborside Event Center
Saturday, March 19th
Students perform at 1:00p.m. - 1:30p.m. and 2:30p.m. - 3:00p.m.
“Sharing a story with children is an important way to engender a love of reading in their lives,” explained Dr. Eileen DeLuca, Associate Dean of College Prep/Developmental Studies and a member of the Reading Festival Committee. “Our students know that simply taking the time to read a book to young children provides a wonderful foundation for their future academic success.”
Deluca is one of several Edison State College faculty members whose passion for the written word is surpassed only by their dedication to promoting those words. The group includes members of several departments. They have created multiple avenues for both their students and the community to gain appreciation for the craft of writing.
Students and faculty have participated in the SWFL Reading Festival for three years. Last fall, Professor Maria Cahill worked with the Writing Club to launch the Week of Writing at Edison State, featuring guest authors, discussion panels with journalists, a poetry slam, and various workshops. School of Education students read to the children at the Lockmiller Early Learning Center on Lee campus as part of their Service Learning requirement, and have participated in various national reading events.
The Lee Bennett Hopkins Writers Workshop will hold its third annual event this October, featuring renowned authors Lee Bennett Hopkins and Jane Yolen. Bennett Hopkins, a prolific children’s author who has generously given his name and talents to the event, is highly impressed with the Edison State faculty. He dedicated his recently released I am the Book: “To my Edison State College Book-Loving Friends: Eileen Deluca, Shelley Greggs, Elaine Schaeffer.”
Students are inspired by their professors’, passion about reading. As Professor Elaine Schaeffer explains,” Reading is the key that unlocks the wonders of the world for children. Who wouldn’t want to be part of helping them get that skill?”
For media inquiries contact Meg Hawthorne, Public Information Specialist at Edison State College (Lee Campus) 239-489-9306 or mahawthorne@edison.edu.
Celebrating nearly 50 years of excellence, Edison State College is Southwest Florida’s largest, most accessible and most affordable institution of higher education. Proud to be tobacco-free, Edison State serves more than 20,000 students per year in five counties and online. For more information please visit www.edison.edu .
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Last Updated: March 21, 2011
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