Mesquite ISD Read Play Talk Magazine Fall 2017 | Page 19

of May. We wanted to do a RPT theme so that [the kids] got to go home with something,” she said. After approaching FUMC Senior Pastor Tom Palmer with the idea, the committee, full of local moms and grandmothers, got to work. Lesson plans included reading different Bible stories and focused on how to apply the theme of the story to the kids’ everyday lives. “We made and passed out ‘readers’ for each Bible story so the kids went home with four paper-made books. Then we let them pick books to take home overnight from the donation piles. Every child went home with a minimum of eight books,” Howe said. “There was another MISD teacher, Lisa Pinkston, on the planning committee, and we had been working on our classroom libraries, so we boxed up books to donate for the kids. They loved it!” Also participating in the VBS event were St. Marks and St. Stephens United Methodist churches, both located in Mesquite, along with New Covenant UMC of Sunnyvale. FUMC hosted about 38 students in early August at the church’s downtown Mesquite location for VBS. The combined church group is considering adding more RPT events to their calendars. Topics for VBS included the Bible stories of Moses, Jonah and the whale, David and Goliath, and Jesus in the temple. Each night, the children embraced RPT from a Biblical perspective, reading Bible verses (as well as secular books, too!), creating crafts, discussing their thoughts on the stories and even singing fun songs. Howe said her whole purpose was to facilitate the VBS lessons so that students would learn more about God through literacy activities and enjoy themselves while doing it. Making reading, playing and talking not just a hobby but a daily habit drove not only Howe’s VBS curriculum but also continues to drive Mesquite ISD’s early childhood curriculum each day. “We have just started these ideas to support RPT for MISD and are planning more activities and workshops to help parents, grandparents and members of the community be active in reading with children in the neighborhood,” Howe said. In the future, FUMC has goals to continue promoting RPT through its ministries. Currently, some church members volunteer to visit MISD schools and mentor students in reading and math. Plus, there’s a “Red Beans and Rice” ministry: “A group goes out into the community with a simple dinner of red beans and rice and cornbread, but brings a book or two to do a “read- aloud,” said Howe. FUMC shows that it isn’t hard to make a difference with a little hard work. Mesquite ISD appreciates the church’s commitment to the RPT initiative. Page 19