Books hold pupils' interest

Teachers are integrating donated books with writing assignments.
By KANTELE FRANKO
VINDICATOR staff writer
YOUNGSTOWN -- Area resident and former teacher Tom Gilmartin knows education is more technologically oriented than it used to be, but he wants pupils to realize the importance of the original laptop: books.
Gilmartin began a program 10 years ago to deliver books to first-graders in the Youngstown school system to encourage reading and help pupils create home libraries. He has distributed donated books or books he bought for nominal fees to pupils at about seven Youngstown schools throughout the past decade, working with two or three schools each year to make monthly deliveries of books for children to take home, he said.
Taking a book home each month helps pupils of all reading levels develop their abilities, Gilmartin said.
About 60 pupils from North Elementary School received the latest round of children's books during a visit from Gilmartin on Wednesday. He was joined by Elizabeth Repko of Struthers, with whom he hosts a weekly televised poetry reading for Austintown.
Up for a challenge
First-grader Ashley Agosto carefully picked out words she recognized in her book of choice, "Trash." The book was more complicated than the one she chose in November, but Agosto said she enjoyed the challenge and planned to ask family members to help her read it.
Gilmartin, a retired Warren Western Reserve High School government instructor, said cooperation from principals and teachers has been instrumental in the success of his reading program.
"Give a teacher a little inch, and they can go from there," he said, adding that some teachers are using the books to develop classroom assignments.
Linda Carbon said she appreciates Gilmartin's efforts to emphasize the importance of reading for pupils in her class, who received books from Gilmartin's project in November. To apply the book donations to the classroom setting, Carbon said she plans to require pupils to submit short reports on the books they receive. She also is considering giving each pupil a small basket to store their books at home.
Principal Cathy Dorbish said Gilmartin's efforts show that some community members maintain a strong commitment to helping pupils succeed. This is the first year Gilmartin has worked with North Elementary.
Seeking support
To continue the monthly deliveries, Gilmartin said he is looking for community support to meet the demand of eager pupils, which is exceeding the amount of books he has been able to provide in the past. Anyone wishing to donate books can do so at the St. Vincent DePaul store, which provides some of the books used for the project, or by contacting Gilmartin at (330)740-0026.