Summer Program 2012 Kick-Off!

Our summer programs are off to a GREAT start!  Both programs will be focusing on a variety areas from reading, writing, gardening, art, music to theater.  Our goal is for our kids to improve their reading and writing skills while exploring and developing other interests in the arts and humanities.  Through an assortment of fun and educational Friday fieldtrips, we also hope to expose kids to such Grand Rapids treasures as the Grand Rapids Public Library, the Children’s Museum and more!

While the mission of both the Cook Arts Center and Cook Library Center may be the same, the programs at each location are a little bit different.  At the Cook Library Center for example, the principal academic focus is reading.  Kids enrolled there come in every afternoon Monday-Thursday and read for one hour before they engage in math, history or English literacy activities together.  Can you believe that their goal for each child is to have them read 100 books by the end of the summer!? Wow!

The Cook Arts Center, on the other hand, focuses heavily on strengthening kids’ writing skills.  Each day the “Word of the Day” activity requires students to use two pre-selected words in a complete sentence that they record in their mini-journals.  Likewise, students are also asked to write in a separate journal about the chapters that they are required to read from books that they themselves select.  This second journal is especially unique because it will be “followed” by an assigned reading buddy (Youth Assistants) who will spend time with each student encouraging them as they progress in their reading and writing.

We’re excited for our kids and are looking forward to 5 more weeks of fun and learning! :)

Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities administers the programs of the Cook Arts Center and Cook Library Center.