January is National Book Month, so we figured it was the perfect time to highlight three Littleton Public Schools Foundation educator grants that brought new books – and new learning experiences – to students across the district this past year.  

LPS Foundation Grantee: The Power of Representation at Field Elementary School

Stacy Oraker, Field Elementary School Librarian, knows that when students see themselves reflected in books, they engage better in learning.  When Stacy discovered that her LatinX and Hispanic students, who make up 59% of the school’s population, weren’t represented in the titles in her library, she requested a grant to purchase books with Hispanic characters and perspectives. Stacy was awarded the grant, and now her library is filled with books that her students see themselves in and are excited to engage with. 

LPS Foundation Grantee: Graphic Novels Foster a Love of Reading at Goddard Middle School

The desire to foster a love of reading among Goddard Middle School students led Librarian Alison Nelligan to apply for a grant to increase her collection of graphic novels. In her application, Alison shared that students often visited the library asking for graphic novels. Her limited selection meant that she typically had six students at a time on a waitlist for the first novel in a series. When students heard the list's length, they sometimes left the library without a book. This could have been a lost learning opportunity, as reluctant readers will most likely request graphic novels. Thanks to our donors, the LPS Foundation gave Goddard $1,000 to purchase additional graphic novels, and the waitlist has been nearly erased.

LPS Foundation Grantee: French Book Club Expands Learning for Arapahoe High School Students

Students at Arapahoe High School are gaining a deeper understanding of the French language, thanks to the introduction of book clubs by their teacher, Anne Briotet. The book clubs were made possible by an educator grant. Students meet in small groups to discuss the books, increasing independence in reading and developing cultural awareness. They also are gaining confidence in speaking, writing, formulating opinions, and using text to support opinions in French. The class created a slideshow to share their experience with our donors.