Nina Zolt
Founder and chair of In2books
Nina, you're an attorney with specialized experience in the entertainment and media industry. And, you're the founder and Chair of In2Books, a not-for-profit literacy organization. Those are two very different worlds. What triggered your interest in literacy and why did you become a literacy activist? ...Did books, reading, and writing play a significant role in your own childhood?
The two worlds are not as different as they might first appear. When I was an attorney in the entertainment and media industry, I experienced firsthand the power of words, in movies, on records, and in television series, and in negotiations and contracts. Now I am just trying to share what I learned.
Reading has always been important to me ‚ my kids say I was born with a book in my hands. I was the only kid on the block whose parents bought her a television set because they thought I read too much. Our family has shared many thousands of hours reading together and talking about books. It is an experience I think all children should have.
Research has shown, though, that children who grow up in low-income families have less experience with reading, books and language in their homes, so they have a lot of catching up to do when they get to school. Giving children that kind of "real world" experience with books and adult pen pals is one way to start to level the playing field—and it is one of the main ideas behind In2Books.
Was there a point on your journey toward activism that you realized there was a need, or needs, that were not being addressed, and should or could be addressed?
I have done a lot of reading about learning, literacy, and brain-based research. Besides being fascinated by what I read, I was impressed with how thoughtful and logical the research was, and how consistent it was across the different disciplines. I was surprised not to see more evidence of the research in my daughters' classrooms. It made me curious about how much of this research was reaching schools in high poverty neighborhoods.
I was given the opportunity to observe some classrooms and talk to teachers in some of our most disadvantaged schools. What I saw and heard made me angry. These teachers have the biggest challenges — helping children catch up — yet they do not receive enough support. They are asked to help children become readers, writers, and thinkers, and they are not given the time and materials that other teachers have. They do not receive enough literacy professional development and are not provided with sufficient planning and collaboration time. Their schools do not have up-to-date libraries and librarians. Their classrooms do not have enough books.
Where did the seed of the idea for In2Books begin? Where did it take root?
I wanted to help all children succeed. So I tried to find out what worked. My research suggested some consistent strands — being a curious learner, having caring adults around, and developing personal resilience. In2Books brings these elements together in a single program.
Since I moved to Washington, D.C., more than a decade ago, I have wanted to support children in the DC public schools. So, in 1998, I worked with teachers in three District of Columbia Public School classrooms to introduce, test and refine the approach that would become In2Books.
What is In2Books and what makes it different from other literacy programs which put books in children's hands?
Most programs just give children the books. In contrast, In2Books is a learning community that provides students in the second through fifth grades with intriguing books and adult pen pals and provides their teachers with in-depth literacy training and curriculum guides.
We help students weave books and writing into all aspects of their lives. We help them enjoy reading and writing and use these skills as tools for their academic success. We also help teachers become more effective literacy instructors. This creates a literacy rich environment and a network of support that continues from year-to-year. In2Books is an ongoing source for lifelong learning in which both students and teachers gain knowledge and skills at their own pace.
Who selects the books that you use in your program? Do you seek input from the kids on the books you have selected, and does that feedback influence your future selections? Are the books purchased or donated? If someone would like to donate books to In2Books, would you be interested?
I work closely with our book selection committee. This committee brings together the wisdom of some extraordinary children's literature experts: Susan Hepler, Maria Salvadore, Jewell Stoddard, Debbie Taylor, and Junko Yokota. We also seek feedback from teachers, students, and pen pals. In2Books is constantly evolving its book selections based upon this feedback.
We purchase the books that we give to the children and schools. We would be very interested in receiving donations of quality children's books in good condition that we could pass on to our schools.
In2Books begins with a child and a book. The writing component is dependent on computer technology. It's wonderful that In2Books combines both the traditional and electronic, but is there a problem implementing the program in schools that do not have adequate computer resources? If so, how do you solve that problem?
Currently, only the adult pen pals must have online access.
Although In2Books is designed to be digital for students and pen pals, many of our schools do not have regular Internet access or the appropriate hardware to enable their students to participate digitally. Our students handwrite their letters on paper. Then, we scan and upload the letters for delivery electronically to their pen pals.
We have the capability to have everyone participate online as soon as schools are wired and have the hardware and Internet access for ongoing use by students.
The Pen Pal component of your program is one of its most exciting aspects. It provides positive role modeling and caring adult interaction for the students, as well as constructive writing experience. It also addresses the practical needs of the adult volunteers who may not have time to volunteer in person, but can easily find the time to write to students. How do adults become Pen Pal volunteers?
Go to www.In2Books.org and fill out an application. We welcome new pen pals.
Is there a professional development aspect to In2Books? Do you provide ongoing support to classroom teachers?
Professional development for teachers is a fundamental part of In2Books. Just as students must become lifelong learners to succeed, teachers must be lifelong learners themselves if they are to help students develop the inquiry skills and intellectual confidence that defines the lifelong learning process.
We provide 21 hours of professional development each year. The first session is six hours long, followed by five three-hour sessions, keyed to the five books the students study each year, in which teachers reflect on the prior cycle and prepare for the next cycle. In2Books specialists also are available to go to classrooms and provide in class support upon request.
What is the impact of In2Books on student's overall language and literacy skills? Does the In2Books program enhance kid's critical and creative thinking skills?
In2Books has participated in a number of formal and informal independent evaluations that demonstrate that the program helps students enhance their reading comprehension, critical thinking, and writing skills. We stimulate student creativity by continually asking students to create unique and thoughtful letters and drawings to send to their adult pen pals.
What is the impact of your program personally on the kids?
Students love the program. They tell us how much they enjoy and learn from the books. A number of our students tell us that their pen pals are their best friends.
On the teachers?
Teachers are invigorated by their students' excitement. Our professional development program started because teachers asked us to help them expand the program in their classrooms.
On the parents?
Parents come up to me at school events and hug me and tell me how inspired their children are by their pen pals and how much they enjoy reading the books with their children.
On the Pen Pal volunteers?
Pen pals write of the satisfaction they feel in helping children even though they are very busy — and how being a pen pal helps them be a better parent, relative, or friend. Pen pals also talk of how much they enjoy talking about their experiences with colleagues — especially with other pen pal volunteers.
If someone is interested in helping In2Books, is there anything that you particularly need?
We always need two things –(1) cash contributions so that we can continue and expand the program and reach more children and (2) more caring adults to become pen pals.
If people want to know more about the organization, what should they do?
Go to our website at www.In2Books.org
Nina, your work is very inspiring. How do you feel now about In2Books?
I am proud to be part of such an effective community collaboration. I am thankful for the hard work and creativity of our staff, our board members, our students, teachers, principals, and pen pals.
What has been the impact of all of this on your own life and attitudes?
I am more aware of how complex most problems are and how important it is to work collaboratively with others.
Would you encourage others to take an activist's journey?
Yes. Change is hard but fulfilling work. We are helping to improve the quality of education for the children we serve but we need more likeminded folks to join our effort to increase the number of children we reach.
Do you have any words of wisdom or advice to share with others who are contemplating becoming literacy activists?
It is important to understand the needs of the people you want to help and continuously seek their feedback.
Do you remember the first time you read a book to your first-born child? Do you remember the book? What was the experience like for both of you? What are some of your family's favorite books?
I remember the first time I knew that my daughter understood what I was reading to her. She was a few months old and she imitated me trying to whistle as I was reading Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats.
Reading books with my children are some of my favorite family memories. There are too many favorite books to mention, but when my daughters were little our house was well stocked with books by Ezra Jack Keats, Margaret Wise Brown, William Steig, Patricia Polacco, Eric Carle, Don Freeman, Dr. Seuss, Anita and Arnold Lobel, Audrey and Don Wood, and many others. Now that my children are grown, we are still reading and talking about books together.
If you had the power to change America, what one thing would you do to enhance children's lives?
Help all children gain the confidence and skills they need to succeed. Demonstrate to them that if they work hard to develop their skills, we will help them realize their dreams.
Thank you Nina Zolt, you are an inspiration!
Contact information about In2Books:
In2books Inc
1250 Connecticut Ave NW Ste 200
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-223-5300
http://www.in2books.org
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