By Dawn Gonzalez
On Monday, Sept. 22, Mt. Eccles Elementary students brought home “The One and Only Ivan,” by Katherine Applegate, and began reading it with their families. Over the next four weeks, students and families will read the book together at home while celebrating and exploring the novel at school. It’s all part of a unique, national family literacy program called “One School, One Book” from the nonprofit organization, Read to Them, designed to strengthen the educational connection between home and school.
Mt. Eccles Elementary is pleased to invite the community to read along with our students. “The One and Only Ivan” can be found at the local library or online. Reading together as a community can strengthen relationships, create shared experiences through reading, and continue to support a strong reading culture in Cordova.
Mt. Eccles will join the schools and districts across North America who have undertaken this family literacy strategy. At home, students will read and discuss with their families the story of Ivan, a gorilla who lives in a mall. In school, students will answer trivia questions and engage in creative extension activities. The community can join in on discussion questions shared weekly in The Cordova Times.
One School One Book is the flagship program of Read to Them, a national nonprofit based in Richmond, Virginia. The organization’s mission is to create a culture of literacy in every community.
“The secret sauce of family literacy is to create a symbiosis between home and school. When students see their book being read and shared and discussed at home and school, they are surrounded by the culture of literacy,” explains Read to Them Director of Programs, Bruce Coffey. Thank you to Cordova Electric Cooperative for sponsoring Mt. Eccles’ participation this year.
Week 1 discussion questions
Patience (p. 3)
Ivan claims that he is “patient.” Why might this be an important characteristic for a gorilla? Are you a patient person? If not, what are some ways you can be more patient on a daily basis?
Shapes in clouds (p. 19)
Using Ivan as an example, would you say that you have an “artist’s eye”? In what ways? How might life be different if each of us could stop and appreciate things like shapes in the clouds?
Stella (pp. 27-29)
“We don’t have much in common, but we have enough.” (p. 27) Do you have to have something in common with someone else to be friends with them? Why or why not? Do you think it’s important to have friends with different backgrounds than yours? Does it matter?
Bob (pp. 34-36)
We finally get to meet another dear friend of Ivan – Bob! Ivan notices that: “Bob’s tail makes me dizzy and confused. It has meanings within meanings, like human words.” (p. 35) What is so confusing about Bob’s tail? Do humans have a part of their bodies that might make feelings seem complicated? If so, what is it?
Drawing bob (pp. 46-47)
To get Bob’s name, Julia “had to draw him first.” (p. 47) If you’ve ever named a pet – or even an inanimate object like a stuffed animal or a plant – what was your process? Does the name have any personal meaning to you? If so, share it.
Not sleepy (pp. 51-55)
Ivan claims that gorillas are “dreamers, poets, philosophers, nap takers” (p. 51). Taking a leaf out of Ivan’s book, what four descriptors would you use to describe yourself? How about your closest friend? Your family? If you could have any of Ivan’s characteristics, which would you choose?
Guessing (pp. 61-62)
Bob wagers his guess about the new addition to the Big Top Mall and Stella wagers hers. Who do you think is right? Any guesses of your own?
Dawn Gonzalez is the Mt. Eccles Elementary School principal.
