Turning a New Page |
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In The NewsThis & That
January 2009
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Senator Trenholme Counsell helps mark 8-year anniversary The literacy program at Westmorland Institution – Turning A New Page – recently celebrated its 8-year anniversary with a some very special guests including the program’s champion, retired Senator Marilyn Trenholme Counsell. “Literacy is a gift that you keep for the rest of your life,” said the Senator at the gathering of students, instructors and supporters. “It’s a gift of joy and a gift of power. It can change your life, bring comfort, take you places and help you accomplish great things.” |
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Children's Bookwatch Volume 18, Number 4, April 2008 |
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| Reviewer's Choice | ||
Alphabetland: The Story of Y
Rick McAtee, author
Barbara Hammons, illustrator
Turning a New Page
PO Box 91603, Tucson, AZ 85752
9780976203056, $14.95 www.turninganewpage.com
The latest in the educational "Alphabetland" series designed to teach young people about phonics through storytelling that anthropomorphizes the letters of the English alphabet, Alphabetland: The Story of Y tells how the curious consonant "Y" came to be at the center of a destructive conflict between the consonants and the vowels. Both the consonants and the vowels want Y to join them, but neither side thinks to ask Y what she wants! At last the wise old letter Z puts a stop to the fighting, and the letters of the alphabet hear out Y's wish: to be a consonant that sometimes makes special sounds like the vowels. Z decrees, "If Y only wants to be different some of the time, she could borrow one of the vowel sounds we already have. This will work only if the vowels agree to lend one of their sounds. It can not be a new sound." Together, the letters of the alphabet accept this compromise - mostly (there will always be some who say that Y is a vowel because it can make an i or e sound), and work together rebuilding Alphabetland. The simple, engaging color pictures bring to life this delightful allegorical tale in a superb series for reading aloud to young people. Highly recommended, especially for public library collections of children's books.
Katahdin Press
Article published Wednesday,December 11, 2007
Author Rick McAtee leads writing workshop at Granite Street School
Millinocket's native son confirms that writing can be fun
by R. David White
Author Rick McAtee reads aloud Alphabetland
MILLINOCKET - An all day writing workshop was held for 4th and 5th graders at Granite Street School in Millinocket on Thursday, led by author and reading consultant Rick McAtee. McAtee, who grew up in Millinocket and graduated from Stearns High School in 1976, has written a series of four books designed to help struggling readers comprehend patterns in the English language. In the December 18 issue of The Katahdin Press, the "Adventuring with Books" column will feature McAtee's Alphabetland series.
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Article posted Thursday, May 10, 2007 Prison Prose By Amanda Ehler |
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He was an inmate at the local correctional institute. And what he wrote,and drew, found its way into the hands of a schoolchild. Another child in that class listened to what the inmate recorded...with children in mind.
And the teacher approved of both, in part because it was going to free an inmate...
Article published Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Inmates writing kids’ books
By Katie Tower, Staff Reporter
A handful of inmates at Westmorland Institution are gaining firsthand experience on writing children’s books.
Through a literacy program developed at the minimum-security prison six years ago, the inmates have had the opportunity to improve their reading skills. And some of those inmates are now using those new abilities to author stories for elementary school-level kids...
Leon, an inmate at Dorchester's Westmorland Institution, shows off his new children's book
during a reception held recently to celebrate the literacy achievements
of the participants of the Turning a New Page program.
Come On In!
Article published Winter 2004 - 2005
A Gift From Inside
By Kate Merlin
A child in a District 2 classroom follows along in the book as it is read on the tape. The bell rings, and it is time to turn the page. But this isn't an ordinary book - on - tape. The man reading the story on the tape is an inmate at the Westmorland Minimum Security Institution who is also improving his literacy skills through the Turning a New Page Program. Because of the program, teachers now have access to over 350 books on tape to help foster literacy in their classrooms... |
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Sackville Tribune-Post
Article published Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Inmates Surpass Million-word Challenge
By Katie Tower, Staff Reporter, Sackville Tribune-Post Photo: Katie Tower
Two hundred and eighty-five books and 14 million words later, inmates at Westmorland Institution were praised last week during a special reception for their outstanding achievement. "I didn't have any idea it would take off as well as it did," said Pineau prior to the reception. About 50 inmates participated in Pineau's challenge. The teacher said the inmates were given a month leading up to International Literacy Day (September 8) to read one million words..... |
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