About Cool Classics!
Introduction
Cool Classics! uses classic books to connect children to a unified world of reading, art, culture and ideas. An award-winning journalist, who substitute teaches in the Chicago Public Schools, designed Cool Classics! to mix pedagogy and play for small groups of elementary public school students in an after-school setting.
The program she created focuses on one classic book at a time and, in 20 to 25 sessions of varied activities, builds a universe of art, culture and thematic ideas around it. The children literally are led to experience how the text of a book opens up a whole world of creative imagination, sharpening the skills one needs for succeeding in the real world.
Each session begins with the reading of that book, followed by various activities that spiral back to the themes in the book. These may include exposure to artists and experts, projects, activities and field trips that create the multi-faceted Cool Classics! experience.
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News
Cool Classics! is currently at the Horace Greeley Elementary School, The University of Chicago Charter School, Donoghue Elementary Campus and the William C. Reavis Math & Science Specialty Elementary School.
The art and work of the Greeley participants is currently on display at the Uptown Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 929 W. Buena Ave. Alumni of the 2008-2009 Cool Classics! programs at Donoghue and Greeley are currently starring in videos as part of the "What Does It Say to You" exhibition at the Spertus Museum. We are so proud of our students and hope you visit the show, which runs from September 10, 2009 through March 14, 2010, and see their analysis of objects from the museum's collection.
Cool Classics! has been on display at Chicago Public Library branches, schools and the Chicago Public Schools downtown headquarters. From March through May 2009, the art and work of the Donoghue participants was at Chicago Bee Branch of the Chicago Public Library. In mid-May 2009, and from December 2008 through February 2009, the art and work of the Greeley participants was at the Uptown Branch of the Chicago Public Library. Before that, Cool Classics! was on display at the Uptown Branch from September 2006 to March 2007, at Jane's Place at Nettelhorst from December 2007 through May 2008 and at the Chicago Public Schools' headquarters for the month of October 2007.
Cool Classics! has just created a Lending Library with close to 300 volumes that participants can check out and read at home. It is wildly successful and participating children are reading with great excitement, making recommendations to their friends in Cool Classics! and keeping track of their reading for the year.
Supporters and Partners
Cool Classics! began with a generous grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which made it possible to develop, pilot test and evaluate the program for Chicago's public school children.
Support has also come from the Nathan Manilow Foundation, the Polk Bros. Foundation, Urban Gateways and The Northern Trust Centennial Fund, a donor-advised fund of the Chicago Community Trust.
Cool Classics! partners include the Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies at the University of Chicago.
Cool Classics! is incorporated as a Not for Profit under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
