The Read! Lead! Succeed! program provides high-quality, literacy-based lessons designed to advance social emotional learning and awareness. This year, art extensions were introduced and used to enhance the learning experience. Through creative art, books, games and discussions with peers, students were given insight into confidence, loving themselves, and exhibiting love and kindness for others. The program seeks to help students develop enhanced resiliency, communication, leadership, emotional management and decision-making skills.
One of the lessons taught in the program teaches the meaning of positive affirmations and how one’s mindset can affect their life day-to-day and long-term. Students chose affirmations, and then framed them in picture frames they painted. This lesson includes reading the books I Think, I Am! Teaching Kids the Power of Affirmations by Louise Hay/Kristina Tracy and I Am Thinking My Life by Allysun Atwater. As a group, the students discussed their strengths and weaknesses and how to create their own affirmations to practice on good and bad days. The program also teaches techniques and skills to handle tough emotions such as sadness or stress, including an activity for students to decorate their own donut-shaped stress balls.
Linda McKinon, Recreation Specialist at the Carolyn Sims Center, commented, “The Literacy Coalition ELO has really impacted the City of Boynton Beach-Carolyn Sims Center’s campers. [She] brought entertainment to our campers one page at a time, sending them on adventures with the specially selected books she chose to read. Each book had a message and taught them things that they’ll definitely need to progress and be successful in life.”
Molly McGahee, the mother of Bayan Creek Elementary School student Maddie McGahee, said her daughter enjoyed using the books from the program at her home.
“Our daughter looked forward to seeing Ms. Lauren each week. It was her favorite part of summer camp. The books and activities she brought home were fun and engaging and they continue to keep our daughter’s interest. We love the Literacy Coalition!”
