"The Crown School Student Run Bookstore" has been honored by being used in a commercial for Schoolwide.com!
Read the P.S. 161 Bookstore Bylines:
 P. S. 161 has been described in Teacher Magazine as a storybook school. Through a blend of phonics, whole language and literature, we have been very successful in creating an exciting, print rich environment in school and at home. Success in reading is evidenced by the percentage of children who are on or above grade level on the New York City and New York State reading tests. The school was ranked number one in District 17 (now Region 6.) With a poverty index factored in, P. S. 161 was ranked number three on the third grade level and number one on the sixth grade level in New York State.  The school uses the Open Court reading series from kindergarten through grade five. Using this phonics based program children learn to decode at an early age. The school uses trade books as readers. There are 30 - 40 whole class sets of books on each grade level with a widevariety of titles from which to choose. Many teachers use Literature Circles with the trade books to increase children's comprehension and higher level thinking skills. Parent volunteers and educational assistants work with children who are not yet achieving success in reading. Children are motivated to read through the Principal's Reading Club. Children in all grades are encouraged to come and read to the principal. They receive a pin and certificate stating their membership in the club. Each year the Literacy Instructional Specialists have a school wide Reading Olympics contest. Olympic medals are given out to the children on each grade level who read the most books. Every child who enters the contest receives a certificate of participation. A bulletin board with the winners' pictures are posted for all to see. A library card drive is held throughout the year. Our goal is to have every child take advantage of the public library.
P. S. 161 operates a Student Run Bookstore that sells trade books for $1.00. Last year the school sold approximately 9,000 books. The bookstore is open from 7:30 to 8:15 on Wednesday mornings. The principal subsidizes the store to cover the cost of shipping and handling. Children work at the bookstore after learning to fill out a job application and being hired as critics, advertisers, stock clerks or security guards.   Critics review books that are sold in the bookstore and their critiques are published in a monthly newspaper, Bookstore Bylines, that is distributed throughout the school.   Employees are paid in books which places a high value on the importance of reading. Over one hundred children are employed at this time and each day we get more applications for bookstore jobs. The Crown School of Law and Journalism, grades 6 - 8, uses a literature based reading program. They too publish their own newspaper and have won mock trial competitions in New York city. P. S. 161 is proud of its Open Access Library Program which houses computers, a parent library, and an expansive children's library. Everyone in the P. S. 161 family is encouraged to read. Computers in classrooms encourage children to make the reading - writing connection. Two technology labs are available for the children to take advantage of the intemet, as well as make use of computer aided instruction. P. S. 161 has received national acclaim as a Title I school that has achieved success. It has been recognized in Forbes magazine by leading educational critic, Diane Ravich. The belief that every student can succeed is shared by the administration, staff, parents and children. |
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