Dever bridges the generation gap with reading

Ever-changing technology may pull today’s younger and older generations apart, but at the James A. Dever School there is something that brings them together — books.

Every Monday in the school library, students and community volunteers come together and read through the Intergenerational Reading program, now in its 17th year. “The goal of the program is to foster communication and contact between two generations within the community,” said Donna Araneo, who leads the program along with fellow PTA member Debbie Kalb.

The program is run by the PTA and has 18 volunteers who come from Valley Stream, Malverne, Lynbrook and other surrounding communities. Students either volunteer to take part in the program, or are selected by their teachers. Principal Darren Gruen said there are many different reasons why students participate.

Araneo explained that she prefers to pair each adult with just one or two children, so they can really get to know each other. Her hope is that once a child is paired with an adult in first grade, they will stay together as the student moves through the school. The program ends for students after fourth grade.

Rhona Goldman, of Lynbrook, is in her third year as a volunteer with the program and she said she loves the bond she gets to form with the children. Even though she only gets to spend 20 minutes a week with each child, she learns about their family and their hobbies, in addition to spending time with a book. “I enjoy reading with the children,” she said. “It’s fun.”

Goldman, like many other volunteers, got involved through the National Council of Jewish Women. Many woman from the Peninsula chapter, which is based in the Five Towns, have participated in the Intergenerational Reading program at Dever over the past 17 years.

One of the founders of the program is Mimi Friedman, a Valley Stream resident and NCJW member. She still comes and reads with the children every week.

When her grandchildren were attending Dever, Friedman said she came to a concert one night and got an idea about how local seniors could get more involved in the school. She brought the idea to the principal, who then sought approval from the superintendent of schools. “They were delighted,” Friedman said.

Her grandchildren have since moved away, so Friedman said it makes her feel good to be able to read with other children in the community. “You do the same as you would with your grandchild,” she said. “You’re not there to teach. You’re there to help. If they’re stuck with a word, you’re there to help them with it.”

Friedman said that around the holidays, there are game days. The school and PTA also recognize the volunteers with a breakfast at the beginning and end of each school year.

Louise Dougherty, of Malverne, is a new volunteer this year. She has two nephews and a granddaughter at Dever. She said she has already got to know several children through the program. “I love to hear children read,” she said. “I love their enthusiasm. They love the attention they get. They love showing off their books.”

Goldman noted that the children always select the books they want to read to their adult partners.

Gruen said he enjoys seeing the long-term relationships that the children and volunteers form. He noted that both groups look forward to intergenerational reading every week.

The children, he said, get to interact members of the community they normally wouldn’t meet. And the volunteers are able to participate in the educational process. “It gives members of our community the opportunity to visit our schools,” Gruen said, “and share in the wonderful things we do for children.”