March 30, 2012 at 2:58 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Teaching, Tutoring, Volunteers | Comments Off on More Photos from the 2012 Reading: A Family Affair!
Tags: alumni, AmeriCorps, americorps partners, Announcements, barbara effron, Basic Adult Literacy, bob brown puppets, celebrate literacy, Children, Class, community, Development, donate, ESOL, event news, event updates, family, family event, family fun, Family Learning, family literacy, family reading, friends, fun while reading, gary lloyd, Gerry Connolly, groovy nate, jacqueline jules, James Lee Community Center, Kalavaridhi, Kalavaridhi Dance School, LCNV, lcnv learners, Linda Smyth, literacy council, Loudon Literacy, march 24, Mark Keam, NOW THIS!, performance art, RAFA, rafa updates, reading a family affair, reading as a family, reading is a family affair, reading is fun, students, support, teaching, thank you!, tutoring, voices from the glen, Volunteer, volunteers, Writing, zurii conroy
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Another big thank you to everyone who attended the 6th annual Reading: A Family Affair.
Make sure to read our previous blog, which also highlights Reading: A Family Affair: Thank You for Supporting RAFA.
Also, visit the Literacy Council’s flickr to see more pictures of our programs and events: LCNV Flickr Photostream.
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 237-0866
www.lcnv.org
March 28, 2012 at 3:00 PM | Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments
Tags: alumni, AmeriCorps, americorps partners, announcement, Announcements, barbara effron, Basic Adult Literacy, bob brown puppets, celebrate literacy, Children, Class, community, Development, donate, ESOL, event news, event updates, family, family event, family fun, Family Learning, family literacy, family reading, friends, fun while reading, gary lloyd, Gerry Connolly, groovy nate, jacqueline jules, James Lee Community Center, Kalavaridhi, Kalavaridhi Dance School, LCNV, lcnv learners, Linda Smyth, literacy council, Loudon Literacy, march 24, Mark Keam, NOW THIS!, performance art, RAFA, rafa updates, reading a family affair, reading as a family, reading is a family affair, reading is fun, student stories, students, support, teaching, thank you!, tutoring, voices from the glen, Volunteer, volunteers, Writing, zurii conroy
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The Literacy Council’s Reading: A Family Affair is always a fun event, but there was something special about this one. Maybe the rainy, cool weather brought more people inside, because the attendance was higher than ever – over 600 people. LCNV Staff also had the support of 56 volunteers and very engaged members of the James Lee Community Center staff.
Six years ago, when the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia started Reading: A Family Affair, the idea was to create a fund-raising event that was fun, accessible to our adult learners and their families, and promoted books and storytelling in an active, creative way. LCNV was bringing books to life – for families – for free.
Reading: A Family Affair has really become a local community event: showcasing local performing artists and storytellers; promoting one of the best community centers in Fairfax County; engaging volunteers and civic organizations, like Crystal City – Pentagon Rotary Club; and hosting Clifford the Big Red Dog, a celebrity from our local PBS TV station, WETA. The Literacy Council has created an event that brings the community together to celebrate the joy of books.
This year was also special because our local elected officials attended, demonstrating their vote-of-confidence in the Literacy Council’s contribution to the community. Congressman Gerry Connolly was in attendance, and took the time to present the Literacy Council with a Congressional Commendation for 50 Years of Service to the community. Delegate Mark Keam, representing the Vienna and Tyson’s Corner District in the General Assembly, attended RAFA and Supervisor Linda Smyth, from the Providence District, made her annual visit. It is always a privilege to see our community leaders engaged in local events, and with such busy schedules, the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia is honored that they chose to come to RAFA.
Thank you to all who attended, and particularly to Verizon for their signature sponsorship and long-time funding for Reading: a Family Affair. The Literacy Council also thanks WETA-Kids for sharing Clifford the Big Red Dog, and Target and Crystal City – Pentagon Rotary Club for their continued support. Lastly, LCNV thanks Day and Night Printing, Jason’s Deli and Cosi for their in-kind contributions, as well as the many volunteers who gave up their Saturday. Thank you to all for making Reading: A Family Affair a big success.
Patricia M. Donnelly
Executive Director
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 237-0866
www.lcnv.org
March 23, 2012 at 3:02 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Teaching, Tutoring, Volunteers | Comments Off on Come to Reading: A Family Affair Tomorrow!
Tags: AmeriCorps, americorps partners, Announcements, barbara effron, Basic Adult Literacy, bob brown puppets, celebrate literacy, Children, Class, community, Development, donate, ESOL, family, family event, family fun, Family Learning, family literacy, family reading, friends, fun while reading, gary lloyd, groovy nate, jacqueline jules, James Lee Community Center, Kalavaridhi, Kalavaridhi Dance School, LCNV, lcnv learners, literacy council, Loudon Literacy, march 24, NOW THIS!, performance art, RAFA, reading a family affair, reading as a family, reading is a family affair, reading is fun, students, support, teaching, thank you!, tutoring, voices from the glen, Volunteer, volunteers, Writing, zurii conroy
Reading: A Family Affair (RAFA) is just a day away! RAFA is a free family literacy day presented by the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia (LCNV). This event brings books to life through a variety of venues:
• SEE a Book (on stage performances by puppeteers and musicians)
• HEAR a Book (storytellers)
• BECOME a Book (audience participation)
• READ & WRITE a Book (reading/writing activities; book giveaways)
• CLICK a Book (guided computer activities)
Reading: A Family Affair provides an opportunity to introduce kids and their parents to the literacy activities available throughout the community; it also has become a way for the Literacy Council to get the word out to potential volunteers, adults who need LCNV services, and businesses and individuals looking for a great mission to support.
Come and attend Reading: A Family Affair. The event will spotlight storytellers, musicians, dancers, and puppeteers from the greater Washington Metropolitan Area. Stories are told in many ways. Engage all of your senses in the magic of literacy!
EVENT DETAILS
WHEN: This Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 9:30 AM – 2:20 PM
WHERE: James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Rd., Falls Church, VA 22042
*Parking will be available.
*For safety and space reasons, baby strollers cannot be allowed at this event.
For a complete list of RAFA performers: http://www.lcnv.org/rafa/bios.cfm
For a complete schedule of events: http://www.lcnv.org/docs/RAFA_Schedule_2012_revised_3_13_12.pdf
Join the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia this Saturday and celebrate literacy.
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 237-0866 x 115
www.lcnv.org
March 22, 2012 at 1:44 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Teaching, Tutoring, Volunteers | Comments Off on Support Reading: A Family Affair this Saturday!
Tags: AmeriCorps, americorps partners, Announcements, barbara effron, Basic Adult Literacy, bob brown puppets, celebrate literacy, Children, Class, community, Development, ESOL, family, family event, family fun, Family Learning, Family Learning | Leave a comment Edit this post Tags: announcement, family literacy, family reading, friends, gary lloyd, groovy nate, jacqueline jules, James Lee Community Center, Kalavaridhi, Kalavaridhi Dance School, LCNV, lcnv learners, literacy council, Loudon Literacy, march 24, n Teaching, NOW THIS!, performance art, RAFA, reading a family affair, reading as a family, reading is a family affair, reading is fun, students, teaching, thank you!, tutoring, voices from the glen, Volunteer, volunteers, Writing, zurii conroy

Support Reading: A Family Affair. Please make a donation today.
LCNV’s 6th Annual Reading: A Family Affair – to be held this Saturday, March 24 – is a free event dedicated to family literacy and attended by a broad multicultural cross section of the area, including immigrant and at-risk families. As their children’s first teachers, these immigrant and at-risk parents need language and literacy skills that will allow their children to succeed., Research shows that literacy is a family matter; children absorb parents’ values. A parent who models reading habits, or more importantly, reads to their child, ultimately shapes that child’s love of reading. Reading: A Family Affair reaches both parents and children, stressing the importance of family literacy through performance art.
The Literacy Council relies entirely on generous contributions from community partners and people like you to support Reading: A Family Affair, as well as LCNV’s educational programs, which serve more than 1,600 students each year. Please support this event and LCNV’s programs by making a tax-deductible donation today.
Your support allows immigrant and at-risk children to experience the gift of literacy through storytelling, music, puppeteering, and other art forms. Kids will get to meet Clifford the Big Red Dog, sing with Groovy Nate, watch Bob Brown Puppets come alive, and even write their own stories. Plus, each child takes home a FREE book. To see a complete list of the performers LCNV has lined up, please visit: RAFA Performers.
Every cent counts. Your generous gift, whether it is $25, $50, $100 or more, will make a life-changing difference. Please don’t wait – donate today.
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 237-0866 x 109
www.lcnv.org
March 21, 2012 at 1:39 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Teaching, Tutoring, Volunteers | Comments Off on Check out the Performers at Reading: A Family Affair!
Tags: AmeriCorps, americorps partners, Announcements, barbara effron, Basic Adult Literacy, bob brown puppets, celebrate literacy, Children, Class, community, Development, ESOL, family, family event, family fun, Family Learning, Family Learning | Leave a comment Edit this post Tags: announcement, family reading, friends, gary lloyd, groovy nate, jacqueline jules, James Lee Community Center, Kalavaridhi, Kalavaridhi Dance School, LCNV, lcnv learners, literacy council, Loudon Literacy, march 24, n Teaching, NOW THIS!, performance art, RAFA, reading a family affair, reading as a family, reading is a family affair, reading is fun, students, teaching, thank you!, tutoring, voices from the glen, Volunteer, volunteers, Writing, zurii conroy
Reading: A Family Affair (RAFA) is this March 24, 2012! The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia will be bringing books to life this Saturday at the James Lee Community Center. RAFA is a free event that celebrates the gift of literacy through storytelling, music, puppeteering, and other art forms. Check out the RAFA Performers below. Once you find a performance you’d like to attend, take a look at RAFA schedule to make sure you don’t miss your performer.
Bob Brown Puppets have been a major children’s theater company for the past fifty years, offering the finest in children’s education and entertainment and performing to over 300,000 children a year. Bob Brown Puppets bring together art, music and story-telling to the delight of children (and grown-ups) everywhere. Bob and Judy Brown have enriched the lives, the imaginations, and the potential creative abilities of children, now performing for the children of those they played to 35 years ago.
Zurii Conroy began her journey into storytelling when she was in the third grade. Realizing that she had a talent that needed to be shared, Zurii began storytelling professionally in the 6th grade under the name “Princess Zurii.” Although Zurii specializes in African-American folktales, she is able to adapt to other genres within the craft. Zurii has performed at various venues such as birthday parties, schools, colleges, hospitals, churches, libraries, community events, plays, and festivals. Also an actress, Zurii has performed on both the stage and television.
Barbara Effron’s energetic storytelling programs combine folk, traditional, and modern tales with songs and audience participation. With her energetic delivery and enthusiasm, Barbara captures the imagination and takes the audience on journeys to far-flung places and fascinating people. Her passion for storytelling is enhanced with music and audience participation. Her engaging and educational programs reflect her background as a teacher and children’s librarian.
Elnathan K. Starnes/ Groovy Nate has been a working musician and song-writer in the DC/MD/VA area for over thirteen years. Elnathan is a featured guitarist on several CDs and has performed with several Washington DC-based groups. In 1997, he founded the award-winning soul band, Oktbrwrld, with whom he made four CD’s. Elnathan wrote the film score and co-wrote the film short The Water Story which appeared on BET. He is now a member of both the National Capital Puppet Guild and Puppeteers of America. Nate is a certified Music Together teacher and is teaching Music Together as well as Groovy Nate Music and Movement classes in the Northern Virginia area. Elnathan and his wife, Kisha Kenyatta, along with their two young children, combine talents to create meaningful and educational performance art and edutainment for children and families. They produced the first Groovy Nate CD, Meet Groovy Nate, in 2009.
Jacqueline Jules is the award-winning author of 23 children’s books, including Zapato Power: Freddie Ramos Takes Off (2010 CYBILS Literary Award for Short Chapter Book, Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader Honor Book, ALSC Great Early Elementary Reads), Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation (2010 Library of Virginia Cardozo Award), Benjamin and the Silver Goblet (2010 Sydney Taylor Honor Award), Duck for Turkey Day (Washington State Children’s Choice Book Awards list, TN Volunteer State Award), and No English (DE Diamonds list, TN Volunteer State Award list). Also a poet, Jacqueline won the Arlington Arts Moving Words Contest, Best Original Poetry Award from the Catholic Press Association, and the SCBWI Magazine Merit Poetry Award. Most of Jacqueline’s books have grown out of her experiences as a teacher and elementary school librarian. Students are her inspiration.
After training with Guru Bhanumati for over a decade, Sheela Ramanath moved to the United States and started her own dance school, Kalavaridhi, in 2001. She builds upon her gurus’ teaching methods, creatively adapting them to each student. Even in grouped settings, she coaches each student individually. Through lecture-demonstrations and illustrated recitals, she strives to mold young artists into versatile dancers. Following the traditional curriculum for Bharatanatyam, Sheela teaches both the theoretical as well as practical aspects at each level. She draws upon real-life comparisons to help communicate depth of feeling. Sheela’s senior students will be performing at RAFA in 2012.
Gary Lloyd is a renowned storyteller, visiting schools, festivals, libraries, and other venues from Vermont to South Carolina, entertaining hundreds of thousands of listeners of all ages. He begins each program celebrating the bond between storytelling and reading – each requires the reader/listener to call on their imagination to recreate the story in their mind’s eye. Known for his enthusiastic delivery, Gary orchestrates a program of story, voices, movement, and participation that is focused on capturing and keeping audience attention.
In 1990, NOW THIS! began delighting audiences of all ages and interests with totally improvised spoofs of every style from opera to folk ballads, Shakespeare to Soaps. Every scene, melody and lyric was created, on the spot, from audience suggestion. In their interactive musical shows for kids, the NOW THIS! professional cast takes the audience’s ideas and instantly turns them into songs, comic sketches and musical fairy tales. Audience members can be part of the show too!
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 237-0866
www.lcnv.org
March 20, 2012 at 3:00 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Student Stories, Teaching, Tutoring, Volunteers | Comments Off on LCNV: Breaking the Intergenerational Cycle of Illiteracy
Tags: AmeriCorps, americorps partners, announcement, Announcements, barbara effron, Basic Adult Literacy, bob brown puppets, celebrate literacy, Children, Class, community, Development, ESOL, family, family event, family fun, Family Learning, family reading, friends, gary lloyd, groovy nate, jacqueline jules, James Lee Community Center, Kalavaridhi, Kalavaridhi Dance School, LCNV, lcnv learners, literacy council, Loudon Literacy, march 24, NOW THIS!, performance art, RAFA, reading a family affair, reading as a family, reading is a family affair, reading is fun, student stories, students, teaching, thank you!, tutoring, voices from the glen, Volunteer, volunteers, Writing, zurii conroy

Attend Reading: A Family Affair this Saturday, March 24, 2012
The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia is pleased to be among the eighty reading promotion partners partners in the Center for the Book (http://www.read.gov/cfb/#) at the Library of Congress. Once a year, in March, the partners come together to share ideas and activities for promoting literacy and reading across the country. This year’s meeting was held on March 6, 2012, at the Library of Congress.I learned about programs in the Family Reading Partnership, Book It!, American Library Association, Heart of America Foundation, Lubuto Library project,and many others. I was struck by how many fascinating presentations focused on children. LCNV was the only organization among over 60 programs representing adult education.
Although LCNV’s mission is adult education, the Literacy Council provides a Family Learning Program (FLP) as one of its four core educational programs. FLP provides English literacy instruction for children and their immigrant parents in a supportive classroom environment. While kids participate in literacy-related activities and receive homework help, their parents learn English as it relates to their children’s schools, health, nutrition, and community, empowering parents to be their children’s first teachers. Literacy programs and activities are essential to a child’s development; they need to be creative, engaging, sustainable, and progressive. LCNV also hosts its own Reading: A Family Affair, which will take place this Saturday, March 24th, at the James Lee Community Center.
The Literacy Council works to break the intergenerational cycle of illiteracy. Research shows that literacy is a family matter and children absorb parents’ values. If they grow up in homes where literacy is not practiced, they believe that it is not important. It is the continued education at home and the modeling of parents reading themselves, or more importantly, reading to children that influences a child’s love of reading. Adults who strengthen their skills serve as role models for literacy development in their children’s lives. No quantitative measures can replace the realization of hopes and dreams that LCNV’s learners feel from their academic achievements. In just one semester, Lydia, a mother in FLP, improved from a first-grade English skill level to an eighth-grade level, and achieved the goals she set for herself, which were to increase her involvement in her child’s literacy activities and improve her employability skills. In her own words, Lydia talks about how learning English makes a difference in her life and in her son Jerald’s life:
I have a child. He is four years old. When I came here I didn’t understand English. It’s so difficult for me. I felt frustrated but I have one goal: I need to learn English, improve my English, because I have a child and he needs help with homework. Also, I have a dream. It is to speak and read English perfectly to get a better job and good opportunity in my life. It’s never too late to start. I can do it.

Come to Reading: A Family Affair this Saturday, March 24, 2012. *Every child receives a free book
The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia will continue to do its part to strengthen both family literacy and adult education. While our mission is adult education, Reading: A Family Affair is an excellent example of how to showcase literacy activities for children that inspire reading and learning, but are engaging and informative for adults as well. Please plan on joining us for Reading: A Family Affair on Saturday, March 24, 2012. Join lcnv in celebrating family literacy.
Patricia M. Donnelly
Executive Director
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 237-0866
www.lcnv.org
March 19, 2012 at 3:06 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Teaching, Tutoring, Volunteers | Comments Off on Reading: A Family Affair is just Around the Corner
Tags: alumni, AmeriCorps, americorps partners, announcement, Announcements, barbara effron, Basic Adult Literacy, bob brown puppets, celebrate literacy, Children, Class, community, Development, ESOL, family, family event, family fun, Family Learning, Family Learning | Leave a comment Tags: 2012, friends, gary lloyd, groovy nate, jacqueline jules, James Lee Community Center, Kalavaridhi, Kalavaridhi Dance School, LCNV, lcnv learners, literacy council, Loudon Literacy, march 24, NOW THIS!, performance art, RAFA, reading a family affair, reading is fun, students, teaching, thank you!, tutoring, voices from the glen, Volunteer, volunteers, Writing, zurii conroy
Come to Reading: A Family Affair (RAFA) this March 24, 2012. The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia will be bringing books to life this Saturday at the James Lee Community Center!
RAFA is a free event that promotes the value of family reading activities, and nurturing children’s imaginations. This family literacy day is a great opportunity to introduce kids and their parents to the literacy activities available throughout the community. Attend RAFA to experience the gift of literacy through storytelling, music, puppeteering, and other art forms.
Check out the performers LCNV has lined up: RAFA Performers.
Take a look at the event schedule to see which performance you’d like to attend: RAFA Schedule.
Want to spread the word about RAFA? Download the Reading: A Family Affair poster. Print this flyer and post it in family-friendly businesses in your community (e.g., grocery stores, bookstores, coffee shops, churches, family restaurants, etc).
Volunteer at Reading: A Family Affair. LCNV is still looking for people to help out this week as we prepare for the big day. Please fill out this form, which expedite the placement process: RAFA Volunteer Form.
Come to Reading: A Family Affair: celebrate literacy this Saturday, March 24, 2012.
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 237-0866
www.lcnv.org
March 14, 2012 at 3:09 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Teaching, Tutoring, Volunteers | 1 Comment
Tags: 2012, alumni, AmeriCorps, americorps partners, announcement, barbara effron, Basic Adult Literacy, bob brown puppets, celebrate literacy, Children, community, family, family event, family fun, Family Learning, friends, gary lloyd, groovy nate, jacqueline jules, James Lee Community Center, Kalavaridhi, Kalavaridhi Dance School, LCNV, lcnv learners, literacy council, Loudon Literacy, march 24, NOW THIS!, performance art, RAFA, reading a family affair, reading is fun, students, teaching, thank you!, tutoring, voices from the glen, Volunteer, volunteers, Writing, zurii conroy
The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia will be bringing books to life at its sixth annual Reading: A Family Affair (RAFA). Come to the James Lee Community Center this March 24, 2012! Families will have an opportunity to experience the joys of storytelling by visiting a variety of venues that promise to take children (and adults) to far-flung places:
• SEE a Book (on stage performances by puppeteers and musicians)
• HEAR a Book (storytellers)
• BECOME a Book (audience participation)
• READ & WRITE a Book (reading/writing activities; book giveaways)
• CLICK a Book (guided computer activities)
Reading: A Family Affair is a free event that promotes the value of family reading activities, and nurturing children’s imaginations. This family literacy day is a great opportunity to introduce kids and their parents to the literacy activities available throughout the community; it is also a wonderful way for the Literacy Council to get the word out to potential volunteers, students, and businesses looking for a great mission to support.
A family-friendly event, RAFA offers live performances from some of the area’s most sought after children’s entertainers. Performers include:
• Bob Brown Puppets, a major children’s theater company for the past fifty years.
• Zurii Conroy, a master storyteller who began storytelling professionally in the sixth grade.
• Barbara Effron, a master storyteller who has entertained children and adults since 1983.
• Groovy Nate (Elnathan K. Starnes), a working musician and song-writer for over thirteen years.
• Jacqueline Jules, an award-winning author of 23 children’s books.
• Kalavaridhi Dance School, founded by Sheela Ramanath, performs Bharatanatyam, an Indian
classical dance form.
• Gary Lloyd, a renowned storyteller who has entertained hundreds of thousands of individuals
from Vermont to South Carolina.
• NOW THIS!, an improv group that has delighted audiences since 1990.
Come out and experience storytelling through dance, theater, and music. Join LCNV at Reading: A Family Affair, and celebrate literacy.
Download the Reading: A Family Affair poster. Spread the word about RAFA.
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 237-0866
www.lcnv.org
February 23, 2012 at 2:23 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Teaching, Tutoring, Uncategorized, Volunteers | Comments Off on Award Winning Author, Jacqueline Jules at Reading: A Family Affair
Tags: alumni, AmeriCorps, americorps partners, announcement, Basic Adult Literacy, Benjamin and the Silver Goblet, Catholic Press Association, Children, Children's Books, children's entertainment, chilren's books, community, duck for turkey day, family, Family Learning, freddie ramos, Freddie Ramos Takes Off, friends, jacqueline jules, LCNV, lcnv learners, Library, literacy, literacy council, Loudon Literacy, march 24, Moving Words Contest, no english, RAFA, reading a family affair, reading as a family, SCBWI Magazine, students, super powered shoes, superpowers, thank you!, tutoring, unite or die, Volunteer, volunteers, zapato power
Come out to see the award-winning author, Jacqueline Jules at Reading: A Family Affair this March 24, 2012; the event runs from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the James Lee Community Center. Jacqueline will be reading from her chapter book series, Zapato Power, which features Freddie Ramos, a little boy who receives a mysterious package with super-powered purple sneakers. Would you like to have super speed? Or would you rather have super strength or invisibility? And what would you do if you had super-powered purple sneakers and you could run faster than a metro train? Take part in Freddie’s adventure, as he finds a balance between being a superhero and a student in elementary school. Get prepared to sing and have a lively discussion about superpowers.
Jacqueline Jules is the award-winning author of 23 children’s books, including Zapato Power: Freddie Ramos Takes Off (2010 CYBILS Literary Award, Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader Honor Award, ALSC Great Early Elementary Reads), Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation (2010 Library of Virginia Cardozo Award), Benjamin and the Silver Goblet (2010 Sydney Taylor Honor Award), Duck for Turkey Day (TN Volunteer State Award List, Washington State Children’s Choice Book Awards list), and No English (DE Diamonds list, TN Volunteer State Award list). Also a poet, Jacqueline won the Arlington Arts Moving Words Contest, Best Original Poetry Award from the Catholic Press Association, and the SCBWI Magazine Merit Poetry Award. Most of Jacqueline’s books have grown out of her experiences as a teacher and elementary school librarian. Students are her inspiration.
Visit the BECOME A BOOK room at Reading: A Family Affair. Jacqueline Jules will perform at 10:25 AM and 11:30 AM. Come and take an adventure with Jacqueline and her character, Freddie Ramos. Be prepared to be wowed by Freddie and his super-powered sneakers.
Download the Reading: A Family Affair Poster. Share it with friends and family. Spread the word about this great event.
Are you interested in volunteering at Reading: A Family Affair? If you are not available on March 24th, the Literacy Council is also looking for people to help out over the next few weeks as we prepare for the big day. If you’re interested, please fill out this form, which expedites the placement process: RAFA Volunteer Form.
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 237-0866 x 115
www.lcnv.org
February 21, 2012 at 1:30 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Teaching, Tutoring, Uncategorized, Volunteers | Comments Off on Groovy Nate: Musical Inspiration at LCNV’s Reading: A Family Affair
Tags: 2012, alumni, americorps partners, child entertainer, Children, Children's Books, Class Sites, community, couger club, edutainment, Elnathan K. Starnes, family, family fun, Family Learning, friends, groovin with groovy nate, groovin with nate, groovy nate, Kisha Kenyatta, LCNV, lcnv learners, literacy, march 24, Meet Groovy Nate, music together, National Capital Puppet Guild, Oktbrwrld, puppeteers of america, RAFA, reading a family affair, teaching, teaching strategies, the water story, training, tutoring, Volunteer, volunteers

Come see Groovy Nate at Reading: A Family Affair
Join Groovy Nate, his guitar, puppet friends, and other creative instruments for a musical adventure! Groovy Nate will perform at LCNV’s Reading: A Family Affair (RAFA), which will bring books to life through performance art. The RAFA festivities will take place Saturday, March 24, 2012, and run from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the James Lee Community Center.
After watching the Groovy Nate show, Sheryl Leeds, a Supervisor at Arlington Public Schools, stated: Groovy Nate’s show engaged children in an innovative and creative approach that incorporated literacy, music and movement, and had the participants rocking and reading!
Elnathan K. Starnes, known as Groovy Nate, has been a working musician and song-writer in the Washington Metropolitan Area for over thirteen years. Elnathan is a featured guitarist on several CDs and has performed with several Washington DC-based groups. In 1997, he founded the award-winning soul band, Oktbrwrld, with whom he made four CD’s. Elnathan wrote the film score and co-wrote the film short The Water Story, which appeared on BET. Two of his songs are featured in the major motion picture Cougar Club. He is now a member of both the National Capital Puppet Guild and Puppeteers of America.
As Groovy Nate, Elnathan has performed at various venues in the DC/MD/VA area including: The Children’s Inaugural Ball; Source Theater Washington DC; Art on the Avenue, Del Ray,VA; The Children’s Inn, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD; Arlington Title I Mailbox Books Program, Arlington,VA; DC National Association for the Education of Young Children; and Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD.
Nate is a certified Music Together teacher, and teaches Music Together as well as Groovy Nate Music and Movement classes in the Northern Virginia area. Elnathan and his wife, Kisha Kenyatta, along with their two young children, combine talents to create meaningful and educational performance art and edutainment for children and families. They produced the first Groovy Nate CD, Meet Groovy Nate, in 2009.
Groovy Nate will give two performances at LCNV’s Reading: A Family Affair; the first performance begins at 10AM, and the second will take place at 10:45 AM. Adults and children get ready to explore various musical genres such as Reggae and Hip Hop. Come prepared to laugh and play together, and be inspired to bring music and imagination into your everyday lives.
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 237-0866
www.lcnv.org
Support Reading: A Family Affair this Saturday!
March 22, 2012 at 1:44 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Teaching, Tutoring, Volunteers | Comments Off on Support Reading: A Family Affair this Saturday!Tags: AmeriCorps, americorps partners, Announcements, barbara effron, Basic Adult Literacy, bob brown puppets, celebrate literacy, Children, Class, community, Development, ESOL, family, family event, family fun, Family Learning, Family Learning | Leave a comment Edit this post Tags: announcement, family literacy, family reading, friends, gary lloyd, groovy nate, jacqueline jules, James Lee Community Center, Kalavaridhi, Kalavaridhi Dance School, LCNV, lcnv learners, literacy council, Loudon Literacy, march 24, n Teaching, NOW THIS!, performance art, RAFA, reading a family affair, reading as a family, reading is a family affair, reading is fun, students, teaching, thank you!, tutoring, voices from the glen, Volunteer, volunteers, Writing, zurii conroy
Support Reading: A Family Affair. Please make a donation today.
LCNV’s 6th Annual Reading: A Family Affair – to be held this Saturday, March 24 – is a free event dedicated to family literacy and attended by a broad multicultural cross section of the area, including immigrant and at-risk families. As their children’s first teachers, these immigrant and at-risk parents need language and literacy skills that will allow their children to succeed., Research shows that literacy is a family matter; children absorb parents’ values. A parent who models reading habits, or more importantly, reads to their child, ultimately shapes that child’s love of reading. Reading: A Family Affair reaches both parents and children, stressing the importance of family literacy through performance art.
The Literacy Council relies entirely on generous contributions from community partners and people like you to support Reading: A Family Affair, as well as LCNV’s educational programs, which serve more than 1,600 students each year. Please support this event and LCNV’s programs by making a tax-deductible donation today.
Your support allows immigrant and at-risk children to experience the gift of literacy through storytelling, music, puppeteering, and other art forms. Kids will get to meet Clifford the Big Red Dog, sing with Groovy Nate, watch Bob Brown Puppets come alive, and even write their own stories. Plus, each child takes home a FREE book. To see a complete list of the performers LCNV has lined up, please visit: RAFA Performers.
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 237-0866 x 109
www.lcnv.org