As part of the school’s One School, One Book literacy initiative, the Home School Association (HSA) Literacy Committee at Sousa Elementary School in Port Washington provided each family with a copy of the book, “Miss Alaineus: A Vocabulary Disaster” and celebrated the book by holding a parade and posting their favorite words on the school walls.
Written by Debra Frasier, the book tells the story of a fifth-grader who rushes through a homework assignment and makes an embarrassing mistake that she then overcomes with humility, creativity and grace. Rich in vocabulary, the school used the book to jumpstart a weeklong, schoolwide vocabulary investigation and celebration. Students were asked to provide miscellaneous vocabulary words from their home conversations and write each word on a small index card while drawing a defining picture on the other side. The cards were then posted around the school, forming “graffiti walls” for other students to enjoy.
Sousa students also participated in a “vocabulary parade,” as each child selected a word to dress up as, using simple home materials to form, communicate or display their word of choice as they walked around the building.
Parents were also encouraged to read “Miss Alaineus: A Vocabulary Disaster” with their children. The HSA even provided some discussion tips to parents can delve deeper into the characters, lessons and vocabulary in the book.
