The CHS Latin Club has been awarded a Phi Kappa Phi Literacy Grant of $2,357! We applied for the grant in March; the project description below describes what our students will do. Essentially, these funds will enable our students to write, illustrate, and print copies of two professional-looking, original children’s books and then use those books with children in the community to promote literacy, especially vocabulary-building through Latin roots.
LATIN FOR LITERACY PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Did you know that 90% of multi-syllabic English words are derived from Latin? Oftentimes, one Latin root is the mother of up to twenty English derivatives (Rasinski et al., 2008). The Latin verb, spectare (to look at), gives us spectacle, inspect, respect, spectre, introspective, and many more words. Considering the degree to which a knowledge of core Latin words can amplify English vocabulary, Latin for Literacy seeks to support elementary students literacy via the Latin language. Collinsville High School Latin teachers and students have wanted to conduct read-alouds for younger children to support literacy and teach common Latin words. However, the correct tool for this goal a picture book set in Ancient Rome and containing some key Latin words does not exist. Therefore, we plan to write our own original series of picture books about a girl in Ancient Rome named Stella.
In the 2013-2014 school year, we will write two Stella books that will educate children about the culture and mythology of ancient Rome through a compelling narrative. The books will be written in English, but the characters will frequently use Latin vocabulary words, such as mater (mother), quattuor (four), or canis (dog), that will help to build a foundation for recognizing Latin derivatives in English vocabulary. We will create traditional printed books, but we also plan to create e-book versions so that we can give families free and unlimited access to the books in several electronic formats.
After the books have been printed, we will conduct read-alouds, in costume, at local elementary schools, libraries, and day cares. Additionally, we will conduct in-character question-and-answer sessions about Ancient Rome that will integrate technology such as the Roma: Virtual History application for iPad to enhance student engagement with a world so removed from our own. Further, we will show parents how to access the various electronic versions of the Stella books. We will also give away as prizes some mini, paperback versions of our books. Schools, libraries, and daycares will be provided copies of the Stella books which they may keep and use.
We are dedicated to forming an ongoing relationship with the children who attend our events, with the goal of creating a generation of children in our community who are passionate about reading. We plan to collect email addresses from families who attend our read-alouds and invite them to our future events. Our hope is that the Stella books will engage children while teaching them fundamentals for a lifetime of vocabulary building.
Kristen Bortner, Phi Kappa Phi member, and colleague Kayla Hartmann are both Latin teachers at Collinsville High School and will provide guidance and direction for the project. Collinsville High School Latin students will have creative control over the writing, artwork, and creation of the books and will run the elementary read-aloud events so that this project is truly an example of “kids helping kids.”