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appy Autumn!
It’s that time of year! Kids are getting ready for school, and soon there will be a crisp chill to the air. Oh, I LOVE this time of year! While I will miss the lazy days of summer- I look forward to the crisp newness of back to school supplies, and for some weird reason, new socks just for school! My kids are now in Middle School and High School and I’m just a wee bit sad that the elementary days are over. (sniff) This issue has you covered with some back to school tips, from tips on how to prepare your kindergartner, to handling classroom bullies. Now that the little darlings are in school, my facebook readers asked me to include a little pampering guide for the much deserved break. I did my best! Tell me what you think! I sent out the first email news letter and it was a huge success! You can sign up for our next monthly one on the website www.willamettekidsandfamily.com. While you’re on the website, you will also find an updated calendar of events, information on giveaways, a local blog and more! There’s absolutely no reason to be bored in the Willamette Valley- there is so much going on! I am most excited about the Fall Festivals coming up! I took a few days and researched as many of the local festivals as I could find for my comprehensive guide on pages 18,19 and 20. Oregonians love their Harvest Fests! There are some amazings ones going on this year. Please make sure to tell them you found them in WK&F! Warm Cider and cool evenings and the holidays are on their way! Cheers to you and yours, Happy Autumn!
Yvette
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Please say “I saw it inWillamette Kids and Family.”
by Jenifer Trivelli, M.S
Parents are not powerless to guide their
this bigger picture in the many exchanges they have with their child throughout the course of a day.
Bullying can be simply defined as one person using power (physical, emotional, or mental) over another to control or manipulate them. Other names for this include relational aggression and peer pressure.
Here are five simple yet profound ways to be proactive about building strength in our children:
children to be able to successfully navigate situations we call bullying.
Notice your parenting approach.
Power-over says “do it because I say so,” using parental power (through coercion, manipulation, rewarding, or threatening) to control behavior. This approach does not build critical thinking/problemsolving skills, nor teach the child how to understand (or even be aware of ) what is happening inside of them.
Children who get caught in this powerover situation, regardless of whether they are the “bully” or the “bullied”, share the same need for skills: 1) to understand, recognize, and value their internal experience that something doesn’t feel right and 2) to be able to use critical thinking and problem solving skills to navigate the situation.
Power-with problem-solves issues together and builds critical thinking skills (identifying when an idea doesn’t feel good and why it doesn’t feel good, and making clear decisions which consider all the information and skill sets available to them).
Kids who get overwhelmed by big feelings and who have not been given tools to manage those feelings are at increased risk for being on the “controlled” end of the power dynamic, as the blood flow to the critical thinking part of the brain literally shuts down in response to the threat (real or perceived). Kids who do not have the skills to identify their needs and get them met in healthy ways can be found at the “controlling” end.
Get curious. Give kids big and small decisions to make, then ask how they know the one they picked is right for them?
Do a gut check. When you notice that
your child is deciding something is not good or healthy for them, ask where they feel that in their body. Quite often kids
Parents who are committed to “bullyproofing” must dedicate themselves to
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can point---usually to their stomach or head---as a place in their body that tells them something is off.
Sharing is not required! Do not force
kids to share or “be nice” to every other child. If it feels wrong to your child, validating their position lets them know you are on their side and will support them when it comes to bigger issues.
Know when to get outside help.
Sometimes we are gifted with children we don’t have the knowledge or skills to help. If your child needs support, find a professional with similar values who can help you navigate this leg of your child’s journey. Jenifer Trivelli, M.S., author of Peanut and the BIG Feelings: a Guidebook for Children, works with children, couples, families, and organizations to deepen self-understanding, increase emotional regulation, and promote healthy relationships. She partners with The Trauma Academy LLC to further aid parents and organizations that serve children who have experienced trauma. Please reach her by email at jenifer.trivelli@gmail.com.
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FUN LUNCH IDEAS--Freeze a wet sponge!
Freeze a clean, wet sponge inside a Ziploc bag to use as an ice pack before lunch and to wash sticky little faces after lunch.
Stick on googly eyes!
You’ve seen those amazing Create a Launch Pad! bento box lunches online? Plan out a dedicated space for each family memWho has time for that?! ber: A single location to contain all the “out-theBusy parents can always door” essentials for the day. Setting up a Launch Pad add silly, googly eyes to a can be as simple as clearing a shelf in a bookcase banana or sandwich and and designating the area the family’s Launch Pad. call it fun for children old With more room, consider using bins or baskets. enough to not eat them! For the youngest members of the family, the Launch Pad is the first stop for permission slips, lunch boxes, Add a lunch box note! Funny and sweet little love homework, library books and science fair projects. notes are a lovely way to say For the household’s “big kids”, the Launch Pad hello to your school kid, es- holds handbags, wallets, school ID’s, car keys, pecially in the early days of phone and charger, sports gear, planners and the day’s ration of healthy snacks. One place is all you back to school stress. Download some cute printables at need to corral items every family member must have to leave the house on time each morning. willamettekidsandfamily.com Once you’re all prepared, anything’s possible!! One minute of preparation at day’s end can equal 15 minutes less of morning frustration! Before Bed: 5 minute pick-up of family room or living room Homework / backpack check for items needed the next day Set the table or prepare foods for breakfast. Make and refrigerate lunches. Lay out clothing for the next day. You won’t regret it! Good Luck!
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by Yvette Tripp
Perusing Meetup.com, I found a plethora of amazing events during weekdays to help strengthen your body and mind. Salem Area Energy and Consciousness lists classes ranging from Yoga to meditation, tai chi and belly dance, during school hours even!
Your sweet little darlings are on their way to school after a busy, hectic summer and suddenly the house is filled with so much quiet and, wait- what’s this? A little free time? What to do? Think of yourself for a bit! Carving out a little “me-time” may sound selfish, but you can’t pour from an empty cup, and investing in yourself will go a long way toward making you a better spouse, parent and all-around person. So what will you do with yourself?
Consider your mindBeing a parent means spending far too much time wondering where your kid’s socks keep going, or how to get peanut butter out of an Xbox One, and less time growing your awareness and nurturing your natural curiosity and intellect about things that interest you. Discovery = growth, and besides, you’ll never find those socks- trust me.
Consider your body-
This conjures up warm stones along your spine, and cucumber slices on your eyes, I know. It’s a great place to start, but let’s look past the obvious mani/pedi and spa treatments. What can you do for yourself that you’ll certainly thank yourself for later? You know I’m going to say it. Time to get off the couch and go see what amazing things your body is capable of!
DID YOU KNOW-
Local gyms have minimal start up costs and low monthly rates. Or if you prefer, train for a marathon! You can do it! Setting goals and starting small are the key. Imagine the feeling of accomplishment and the valuable lessons you can teach your kids about self care, committment and perseverance. Not quite ready for a marathon? Consider finding a local walking group on meetup.com or facebook. Just Walk Salem www.justwalksalem.com has walks scheduled throughout the week starting around 9am.
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You can access FREE online classes from universities such as Harvard, MIT, Duke, Princeton,and Berkeley! There’s no catch. They really are free, and they’re self paced, diverse, and interesting! Imagine your dinner discussions when you are learning about subjects ranging from Japan to Biochemistry to Shakespeare’s ghost! Berkeley offers a Science of Happiness course, oh yeah! Fill that brain with the good stuff! Visit www.edx.org Salem Public Library meets weekly for a Literary Discussion Group at 1 p.m. Wednesdays in the Plaza Room. The group reads and discusses contemporary and classic literature. Members take turns facilitating the discussions. Consider also a Books for Lunch program at the library that meets at noon. More
information is available at 503-581-5344. If you’ve been kicking around the idea of starting your own business. Why not start now? There are local free programs to get you started and mentor you on the first steps of setting up a business in Oregon, from taxes, bookkeeping & networking. I used Score.org to start this magazine! Meetup and Facebook have many local entrepreneur support and networking groups. This puts you in touch with forward-thinking local people who have big plans for the future!
Consider your soulA great way to ease your spirit is to give back to others within your community. Getting out of the house and feeling part of a bigger purpose puts you back in touch with the human race- and typically the best parts of it, too! Meeting highquality people who also recognize the importance of community, helps build your support circle and we all know that it takes a village sometimes! Joining a neighborhood group, or volunteering at local community non-profits can go a long way toward warming your soul. Many opportunities provide training and also cater to your strengths and interests. Consider local museums and historical facilities, and local art establishments as well. A search on volunteermatch.org shows that the City of Keizer is currently seeking Points of Interest volunteers and help with their Public Arts Commission. Perhaps finding your civic voice and contributing to the community in a more political atmosphere is something you find exciting? Consider applying to the Marion County Planning Commission, or rallying neighbors to join you in helping the community right on your very own street. Just as we tell our own kids. If you tell me you’re bored- I’ll find something for you to do! For more ideas and links check out www.willamettekidsandfamily.com
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healthy lunch alternatives
for your kids favorite foods
Let’s face it. If given the opportunity, your kids gravitate toward the most unhealthy food choices possible. Let’s look at some healthy choices that can help parents and please kids.
NACHOS Commercial tortilla chips
PIZZA Nothing compares to the
gooey deliciousness of pizza. There’s something about the stringy cheese and robust tomato flavors. A favorite of kids everywhere, pizza can be a healthy, affordable, portable option for families on the go. There are so many amazing alternatives! Pizza pinwheels use rolled up whole wheat tortillas, low fat skim mozzerella, pizza sauce and baked chicken. I even slip spinach into mine and the kids love it! Also consider feta cheese with zesty sauce on whole wheat bagel halves. Great in lunchboxes, too!
POTATO CHIPS While its easiest
are loaded with salt and preservatives. Make your own with whole wheat tortillas. Cut them into wedges and bake them at 350 degrees for 6 minutes till crisp. Add shredded cheese, olives, sour cream or greek yogurt and mild salsa for a much healthier and yummy alternative! For more irresistable fun cut them into shapes using cookie cutters before baking. Fun and Yummy!
to just pop open a bag of chips, making them at home can be pretty simple as well, and so much better for you! Slicing potatos thinly and placing on a baking sheet with a little olive oil and cracked pepper, Mrs. Dash, or Rosemary or Garlic Salt and baking at 400 degress for 30 miutes can yield a pretty tasty chip! And the best part? You can serve them warm! So good.
CHICKEN NUGGETS My
kids love chicken nuggets. Cutting your own chicken breast into bitesize pieces and coating them with wheat bread and panko crumbs in a ziplock bag is so easy that my 12 year old makes them on a regular basis! Mix up the flavor with a little homemade taco seasoning, or parmesan cheese in the coating. Bake at 375 till golden brown.
ICE CREAM Let’s jot down all the
ingredients in this recipe. Ready? Bananas. That’s it! Slice your banana and place in freezer for two hours. Toss it into your food processor and you have sweet creamy banana ice cream! Try it!
FRUIT SNACKS
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For my sons birthday- he asked for 25 boxes of fruit snacks. He’s 14. Nice try, Kid! I offer my kiddos frozen blueberries and raspberries instead. Freezing them takes the flavor to a whole new level! For detailed HOW-TO’s and links visit my website www.willamettekidsandfamily.com
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One of my most favorite places to visit in Salem is Mother Goose Resale on South Commercial. As a budget conscious mama, I’m a true aficionado of local resale/consignment shops. The two things I love most about Mother Goose is the huge selection of goodies and the ever friendly face of Erica Hill. I’ve chosen Mother Goose Resale for this issue’s Spotlight on Salem because I believe that Erica is the perfect example of a mom-preneur. She has found success in both parenting and running a business.
the time had come to balance both being a mom, and being a career woman. I frequenly shopped at the Mother Goose in Albany and was excited one day to see a “Help Wanted” sign in the window, so I started volunteering there. I soon learned that the owner was looking to expand to new areas so after careful consideration, I opened Mother Goose of South Salem. WKF: That’s quite a big decision! Looks like it paid off, though. How long have you been in business? ERICA: It has! We have been in Business for 7 yrs now. I love serving our neighbors in South Salem.
WKF: Hi Erica, for those who don’t know you, yet- could you give us a glimpse into who you are and what motivated you to open Mother Goose in Salem?
WKF: What would you say has been the best part about running your own resale shop?
ERICA: I’d love to. I grew up here in Oregon and can’t imagine living anywhere else. I have been married for 13 years to a great guy, and I have a 9 year old son that I am just crazy about. Before becoming a mom, I used my degree in culinary arts, to secure a job as a sous chef for Marriott in 2006. Then, after finding out that I was expecting, I decided that Chef hours were not as family-friendly as I required. So I eventually left that exciting job and traded in my hat for another exciting and rewarding job as a stay at home mom for a year and a half. While I loved staying home, I also missed working within the community. I knew that
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ERICA: I would have to say the fact that I have gained many great new friends and hadso many positive and new experiences. I have awesome Moms who volunteer their time to keep the shop running, and a bounty of consigners who bring us fabulous gently used items on a daily basis. I appreciate that we are recycling clothes, helping families make extra money on their outgrown items, while helping other families save money on items they need for their children. I have been so blessed to watch local families grow up in our shop!
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WKF: That sounds very rewarding! So, how exactly does consigning work? ERICA: We sell your items for you! Bring in your new or gently used, seasonal items, and recieve 40% of what we sell them for. For larger items, you get 50%! After the designated run time, you can come in and get cash for your sold items, or use them as store credit. If your items haven’t sold, you can come pick them up or we donate them to local charities. Win/Win!
WKF: Thanks so much for your time, Erica. I love having you over here in my neighborhood. I appreciate the difference you make for Salem!
WKF: What kind of items do you accept and sell?
FIND OUT MORE: Mother Goose Resale has a very active facebook page, with special sales and clearance events. www.Facebook.com/MotherGooseResaleSalem. We are open Tuesday - Saturday from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM and are located at 4815 Commercial St. SE here in Salem. Give us a call at (503) 363-0611.
ERICA: We sell clothing from Preemie all the way up to Juniors Medium. We also carry maternity clothing as well as toys, strollers and baby equipment. Our shoppers love the variety, as well as the high quality and low prices. It’s a great way to provide for your kids, while keeping an eye on the budget!
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Hispanic Heritage Day
State Capitol, 900 Court Street NE, Salem SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17-10AM
Volcanoes vs. Hawks- Kids Night! 6700 Field Of Dreams Way, Keizer MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th - 6:30PM
Email jwalker@volcanoesbaseball.com for free kids tickets and information. www.milb.com/promotions/index.jsp?sid=t578
Fleece to Fiber: Native American Beadwork Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill St SE, Salem SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 -2PM
Class for kids 10 years and older. Registration fee of $25. Pre-registration is required by Fri. Sep 9th For more information call: 503.585.7012 www.willametteheritage.org
Storytime Sunday-
Gilbert House Museum- 116 Marion St NE, Salem SUNDAYS IN SEPTEMBER 1-2PM
Join us for Storytime Sunday and enjoy a good book! FREE with admission. Enjoy a fun and friendly readaloud time with local volunteers. Visit our website for more information. www.acgilbert.org
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You’re invited to a celebration of culture in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Experience the colors, sounds and traditions of the Latino Hispanic community. www.oregoncapitol.com
Oregon Trail Live™
1313 Mill St SE, Salem SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17-NOON
Come watch a fun, funky, and one-of-a-kind opportunity for families to learn about the life of the pioneers as they traveled west. Kids & Family Session 12 am to 2:30 pm www.willametteheritage.org
Mommy & Baby Palooza
Santiam Hospital 1401 N 10th Ave, Stayton SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 AT 10 AM - 12 PM
Join us for an afternoon filled with activities that both Mom and baby will enjoy! Music, photos, face painting, balloon art, a bounce house, food & drink, raffles, and unique mommy & baby items. This promises to be a large, fun event for everyone! www.santiamhospital.org
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Just Between Friends Consignment Event
Insane Inflatable 5K- Salem
Save money, make money on stylish children’s clothing and gear at your local Just Between Friends consignment sales event www.salem.jbfsale.com. SEE OUR AD ON PG 8!
The Insane Inflatable 5K is coming to Salem! Fun, wild and insane obstacle run. World’s largest and most extreme inflatable obstacle. Min. height requirement: 42” no min age. Register on website. www.insaneinflatable5k.com/salem-or/
Oregon State Fair & Expo Center 2330 17th St NE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 AT 8:30 AM
Lancaster Center 520 Lancaster Dr NE, Salem SEPTEMBER 30- OCTOBER 2 2PM TO 8PM
VISIT OUR ONLINE CALENDAR FOR MORE EVENTS! WWW.WILLAMETTEKIDSANDFAMILY.COM
Special Needs Horseback Ride Event
County Fairgrounds 110 SW 53rd St, Corvallis SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2 AT 10 AM
The Benton County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse is hosting their 7th annual horseback ride event for children with special needs and their siblings. Riders must be between 3 and 18 years of age. RSVP by September 30th to sheriffsposse@co.benton.or.us. Phone: 541-766-6045
Creative Kids After-School Adventures Salem Public Library Story Rooms A & B THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13 4-5 P.M.
Kids in grades 2 to 5 are invited to explore their creativity every third Thursday of the month. Different hands-on projects from carpentry to sewing, musicmaking and more. www.salemlibrary.org
Life-Size Game Night
MAC Parks and Rec. 600 NE Evans St, McMinnville SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 AT 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Play life-size versions of your favorite board games including Sorry, Connect 4, Battleship, Bananagrams, and more! Prizes!Location: Community Center Cost per family- $15 Registration Deadline: October 8 www.facebook.com/MacParksandRec/
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Airlie Hills
French Prairie
10720 Airlie Rd, Monmouth, OR 97361 503.932.8083 October 1st - October 31st Cost: $7-$9 ages 2 and under free www.airliehills.com
17673 French Prairie Road, St. Paul, OR 503.633.8555 September 24th- October 31st. Cost: see website Hay Maze, Swings, Barrel Train Rides, Animal Pavilion, Hand Pump Duck Races, Obstacle course and more. www.fpgardens.com
Bose Family Farm
35765 Cyrus Rd NE, Albany, OR 97322 541.971.0458 October 1st - October 31st Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, Hay Rides, Kids play area, Mini Disc Golf, Duck Races Cost: $10 wristbands, Kids 5 & under FREE Facebook.com/bosefamilyfarm www.bosefamilyfarm.com SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 20!
Greens Bridge Gardens
3730 Jefferson Scio Dr. SE, Jefferson 541.327.2995 Cost: $7 wristbands Hay Rides, Hay Maze, Animals, Play Area www.greensbridgegardens.com (541) 327-2995
EZ Orchards
Kerr Farms
5504 Hazelgreen Rd NE Salem 97305 503.393.1506 October 1st - October 31st Pumpkin Patch, Hay Rides, Pony Rides, Corn Maze, Live Music, Pedal Tractors, Pioneer Camp, Kids Games and more! www.ezorchards.com Cost: FREE admission M-F and $8 Sat-Sun SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 19!
Petting Zoo, Indoor Games, Corn Maze, Tumbling Towers, Treasure Hunts, Pumpkins, Ice Cream and more! facebook.com/kerrfsarmsfallfestival/ Dates: October 1st - October 31st. Cost: $5 General Admission 6755 35th Ave. Keizer, OR 97303 SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 19!
Corvallis Fall Festival
Fordyce Farm
Corvallis, OR 541.752.9655 September 24th- September 25th. Cost: Varied Music, Food & Drink, Art Discovery Center, 1k-5k Runs www.corvallisfallfestival.org
7023 Sunnyview Rd NE Salem 97305 503.362.5105 October 1st - October 31st Cost: see website Pumpkin patch, Haunted Corn Maze www.fordycefarm.com
Not all farms were ready with information. Please check our website and social media for updates
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Sublimity Harvest Festival
Bauman Farms
Wavra Farms
Do you know of a Fall or Harvest festival happening in the Willamette Valley?
11880 Sublimity Rd SE, Sublimity 503-769-3579 September 9th-11th Truck, Tractor and ATV Pulls, Parade, Kid Zone, Fun Run and Vendors Adults $12-$20, Kids $5, Kids 5 & under FREE www.sublimityharvestfest.com
12989 Howell Prairie Rd NE, Gervais 503.792.3524 September 24th-October 31st Kid Zone, Kids Maze, Nuthouse, Corn Tunnels, Bug Train, Playground and more Cost: $15 unlimited wristbands www.Baumanfarms.com
7882 Jordan St SE, Salem, OR 503) 364-9879 October 1st- October 30th Gerbil Wheels, Corn Maze, Lasso the Cow, Hillbilly Golf, Hay Tower, pumpkin bowling $5 admission 2 and Under FREE www.wavrafarms.com
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If you’d like your festival added to our online directory, e-newsletter and social media, please contact Yvette Tripp @ yvette@willamettekidsandfamily.com. Online inclusion is free.
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by Rachelle Saceda
The transition to kindergarten can be an
exciting time for many children. And yet for others, it can induce feelings of uncertainty, worry, and nervousness. Let’s face it, kindergarten is a whole new world to children, even if they already have previous experience in early childhood settings.
2. Do your research and visit the
school. With the internet at our fingertips we can find out about teachers, lunch schedules, bus routes, and overall general information about kindergarten.
Everything will be new: the teacher, friends, the classroom, materials, the schedule, routines and the developmental expectations. Below are six ways to support your child through this milestone transition.
Take time to scout out open house dates for when you will able to visit the school and meet your child’s teacher. Visit the school often even if it’s not officially open during the summer. Many times the playgrounds are open to check out and you can start getting familiar with nearby streets and surrounding markers.
Hopefully, with consistent practice and follow through, your child will be able to walk into the classroom feeling confident and ready for the new adventures awaiting in kindergarten.
Take pictures of the building to use as a visual cue at home to remind the child that kindergarten is coming and that is “your school.” Have your child help you keep a list of unanswered questions.
1. Be available to talk about kin-
dergarten in a matter-of-fact tone. Your child will have many questions about kindergarten. Who is the teacher? When is lunch? Do I get to ride the bus? Is there a bathroom?...and the list goes on and on.
This might ease the anxiety of forgetting which questions to inquire about when you have the opportunity to ask someone who might know the answer.
Follow their lead with what they are curious about without overwhelming them with too much too soon.
3. Role play. This is where you and your child can participate in dramatic play to experiment what going to kindergarten might feel like.
Share stories from your childhood but read their reactions and expressions in case too much information starts to increase anxiety and nervousness. Field questions appropriately that you know the answer to and offer ideas to problem solve for those you don’t.
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Pretend to go to bed early and prepare to wake up early for school. Use housekeeping play toys to make lunches and pack backpacks with school supplies. Pretend
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to drive to school and wait in the drop off line or to wait for the school bus to arrive. The possibilities for open play is endless. Using role play will allow you to see any hidden feelings, anxieties, or questions your child may have about kindergarten.
4. Support independence.
The weeks (or better yet months) leading up to kindergarten are a great time to wholeheartedly support and encourage your child’s independence. When they know you have faith in their ability to be a “capable” kindergartner, they will be. Allow them to problem solve opening their own applesauce packets without you starting it for them. Encourage them to take responsibility for putting their lunch in their own backpack if you’re leaving the house for an outing. If your child ignores your rules of an early bedtime, allow them to feel the natural consequence that happens when they wake up feeling cranky. It will feel like growing pains for all, but the bottom line is supporting your child to be a knowledgeable, responsible young student.
5. Be the model. Be the model for
your child that education is key. Be the model that you value going to school and leaning to read, write, and capture wonder. Be the model of stability and routine in your household. Remind them that when this big transition comes you will continue to shower them with love and a predictable routine at home. This information is brought to you by the Marion & Polk County Early Learning Hub, a community resource network that provides local kids with a boost to ensure that they recieve the best education possible. To learn more about the Learning Hub, visit their website at www.parentinghub.org
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Every child should be able to read. With
schools and preschools across Oregon to serve more than 10,000 students each year and has become Oregon’s largest volunteer-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to children’s literacy.
your help, they can. SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) seeks community volunteers throughout the Willamette Valley for the 2016-2017 school year. For 25 years, SMART has engaged thousands of volunteers across Oregon to help young children become excited about reading.
The SMART program has given away nearly 2.5 million books and served more than 190,000 children during its tenure. In recognition of its work, SMART was recently awarded the prestigious Library of Congress Literacy Award.
The concept is simple: pair an adult volunteer with children for two one-on-one reading sessions each week for 7 months during the school year. The SMART model was developed by blending early childhood reading support, adult mentoring and community engagement to positively affect literacy outcomes. Volunteers model the joy of reading, while supporting the child to read independently. Each child also gets to choose 14 new books to take home and add to their home libraries.
This year in the Mid-Willamette Valley, SMART is gearing up to serve 1,500 students at 45 elementary schools and preschools with the help of 475 volunteers. Volunteers are needed in schools throughout the Willamette Valley to give one hour of their week from October to May to help make a difference in the life of a local child. Whether it’s laughing with a preschooler about the antics of Sam I Am in the classic Dr. Seuss book Green Eggs and Ham or weighing the odds of a hypothetical sea creature duel with a third grade student while reading Who Would Win: Whale vs. Giant Squid, each week is an unexpected adventure in the SMART program.
Reading is the gateway to learning, opening doors to faraway adventures, new possibilities and promising futures. Children who are confident readers are better prepared for success in school and to enjoy reading for fun. Books can serve as a window into other cultures and traditions and help children expand their imaginations.
Both students and volunteer readers alike often say that SMART is the favorite part
In 1992, eight schools across Oregon launched the SMART program, serving just over 500 children. Over the past 25 years, SMART has expanded to elementary
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of their week, giving them the opportunity to focus on individual time with their buddy while enjoying reading together. In celebration of SMART’s 25th anniversary year, the organization is publishing Oregon Reads Aloud, a children’s book comprised of 25 short stories from Oregon authors and illustrators. Due to be released in mid-October, the book will be available in bookstores across Oregon and online. More information is available on SMART’s website. For information about how to get involved with SMART and sign up to be a reader, visit www.getsmartoregon.org or call (503)391-8423.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Each year, SMART reaches thousands of Oregon children with vital one-on-one reading support and books for those who need it most. And, we know it works. An independent study found that fifth grade students who participated in SMART are 60 percent more likely to meet state reading benchmarks than students who did not participate. An investment of time or resources in SMART is an investment in brighter, more successful futures for Oregon children. -Become a SMART reader! One hour per week can make a lifetime of difference in the life of a child -Donate Today! -$35 covers the cost of one child’s SMART book library for the school year (14 new books) -$300 supports a child and volunteer reading pair for 7 months -$2,500 sponsors a SMART program at a local school -Help Us Spread the SMART Word -Help SMART by liking us on Facebook or sending a Tweet letting your followers know you support us.
Please visit www.getsmartoregon.org or call (503) 391-8423. 25
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ARE YOU A LOCAL BLOGGER/WRITER? We are seeking guest writers for upcoming issues and blog posts! If you have a great idea for our magazine and website, we would love to hear from you. email me at Yvette@willamettekidsandfamily.com. Can’t wait to hear from you!
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