In April 2007, the West Chester-Chester County Branch won a two-year Community Action Grant from AAUW’s Educational Foundation to Spread Let’s Read Math. The objective was to build on the branch’s success in modifying the successful program developed by Dr. Claire Passantino of the Makefield Area Branch, Bucks County, for use in a different geographic area and with a different demographic target group. The original program was developed as a community outreach program and branch new member recruitment tool, and was held in the local public library. The Makefield Area Branch continues this pioneering work today and has expanded the venue of presentation.
Volunteers read an interesting story book with an embedded math theme and then reinforce the math concept using materials and fun activities developed by Dr. Claire. The goal is to un-intimidate math for both adults and kids, and to make math fun. The West Chester-Chester County Branch branch has presented the program for four consecutive summers at the YWCA of Chester County to approximately 35 primary students each summer in the Summer Enrichment Program.
Research has shown that girls, in particular, are turned off by math early in their school careers, thus closing many opportunities for future jobs in science, engineering, technology and mathematics (STEM). This program works to promote positive attitudes towards math in both boys and girls.
The goal of the grant was to interest 6 additional branches throughout AAUW’s Middle Atlantic Region in presenting the program. Training and startup funds were included in the grant, which winds down in June 2009. To date, the following branches have implemented the program using EF funds: in Pennsylvania: Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Northeastern Montgomery County, North Hills-McKnight and Reading; in New York: North Shore (Long Island), Poughkeepsie, Rockland County, Smithtown (Long Island). Four additional branches in PA’s District 1 in the western part of the state are trained and developing programs, thanks to the District Director Barbara Wheatall. The grant also provided operational funds to the West Chester-Chester County Branch (and the Honey Brook Library) and to the Makefield Area Branch. The program was featured in Association’s 2008 Annual Report, the Program Blog, and is a Program in a Box ( aauw.org). The 2009 New York State convention will also feature the program.
In a recent email from Dr. Claire, she shares what Makefield is doing with its Community Action Grant (CAG) this year. The furnace at the Morrisville School PA blew up and covered everything in the school with soot and asbestos, etc. The students are now distributed in several schools around the community until modular classrooms can be brought in, probably in February. Branch volunteers will be conducting workshops in the modulars, as well as in the Morrisville Library as planned, with 4 first grades and 4 second grades. The teachers in the school were very grateful, and are basically working without any student books or general supplies like Scotch tape. The CAG grant is covering the costs of the additional work shops, as well as some Xeroxing and mathematical manipulatives for the school.
The Let’s Read Math program is available to student teachers, college and high school service organizations, Boy and Girl Scouts, community groups etc. and has been used in public school curricula, after-school programs, and Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) settings. Regrettably, all CAG funs have been expended--or is that the good news? However, this program can be funded by branches, communities, PTO groups, etc. and is a particularly important tool in promoting literacy and numeracy in younger children, ages primary through junior high. Additional information is available at letsreadmath.com.
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