February 1 is World Read Aloud Day!

We are challenging all families to read aloud together at home this week and share a reading selfie to social media with #EFSreads2019. We will collect all of your photos and put them into a movie to share with our students and community (make sure to set your photos to public, so we can see them). If you are not on social media, we still want you to participate! Email your photo to msaldanha@elmwoodfranklin.org. Whether you are posting or emailing, please do so by Thursday, January 31 at 10 a.m. On Friday morning, we will come together as a school, read a book aloud, and watch the video of our families’ photos.

Why are we so excited about World Read Aloud Week?

1. We love books!
2. Research shows that reading aloud to children at least three times a week develops stronger reading skills, leading to greater academic achievement in school.
3. Sharing cozy time with a book as part of a bedtime routine is a great way unwind at the end of a busy day.
4. Reading aloud to children models strong fluency skills, such as language development, comprehension, and understanding of language.
5. Focused time with literature helps to enrich the skills that we are building throughout their day at EFS.

​So, curl up with your family and a good book, snap a reading selfie, and send it our way! We can't wait to see what you have been reading!

When you think of the great scientific advancements of the modern age, you are probably not picturing a group of fifth graders trying to determine the pulpiest orange juice or most absorbent paper towel. Or seventh graders learning fire building techniques.

But when you think of science from an educational perspective, you see how these are great advancements—advancements in the scientific thinking of these students—and how, in this sense, Elmwood Franklin is a hotbed of scientific discovery. From the earliest of grades, kids are taught that science is more than a collection of facts to learn and memorize—science involves asking questions, observing, organizing, testing, analyzing, solving problems, even changing the world.

By the time they reach Upper School, students are ready for the more advanced scientific topics that await them. Steve Rao, who teaches science to grades five and seven, tackles complex subjects such as cell structure and theory, virus particles, and environmental sustainability. The issues get more sophisticated, and the kids’ interest rises to the challenge. After all, Steve hopes that "the lessons learned in science class here at EFS will inspire these students to find a cure for a disease or a solution to live more sustainably on our planet. I love when kids get excited about the scientific process and when they ask questions about our world!"

Years at EFS: 17

Place of birth: Saginaw, Michigan

Education: BS in biology from Kalamazoo College, Master’s in environmental education from the Audubon Expedition Institute of Lesley University

Favorite book: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

Favorite movie: the Star Wars trilogy

Scientific discovery he’d like to make: “I’d like to discover a renewable, clean-burning fuel that’s cheap and abundant.”

Heroes: “My personal hero was my uncle B.K., the coolest guy, who taught me to always think with an open mind.” Steve also cites “all writers, artists, musicians, politicians, scientists, teachers, and students around the world who speak out against injustice and inequality and work toward a more peaceful and sustainable future.”

A few things you may not know about Steve: He holds honors in two very different enterprises: In fourth grade, Steve co-won his school’s breakdancing competition, and then in college, his tennis team won the national championship. In pursuit of his Master’s degree, he participated in an experiential, traveling learning program that focused on one bio-region of the country each semester. He lived on a converted school bus and camped outside every night, even in December in Colorado.