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"What we want to see is the child in pursuit of knowledge, not knowledge in pursuit of the child" - George Bernard Shaw  Pratum Literacy Services
Expert Knowledge of Printed Materials That Inspire Literacy
Teaching Literacy & Creating Incredibly
Rich Learning Environments for Kids
Todd Leif Pratum 263 Athol Avenue, No.8, Oakland CA, 94606-1344
Cell 510.478.8582 ❦ Learning@Pratum.com Since 2004
MISSION
TO EXPOSE KIDS TO THE EXCITING WORLD OF
BOOKS AND LITERARY HISTORY. TO FACILITATE EACH
CHILD'S SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING EXPLORATION.
TO PROVIDE PARENTS, KIDS & SCHOOLS WITH
THE VERY FINEST PRINTED MATERIALS.
Providing
Holistic Teaching & Education
Ecological Literacy ~ Scholarship
Institutional & Home Library Creation Classes & Presentations
My Work With Homeless & Foster Kids-- Besides the classes below I continue to work with the thousands of homeless and foster kids in Oakland, this will be my 6th year and it has been so wonderful to work with these special kids. I continue to need donations of books (all ages and types), art supplies, games, toys, stuffed animals, theatrical equipment and costumes, puppetry equipment, sports equipment, and your time. Few people know that in most family homeless shelters and foster group homes virtually none of these materials exist. In many group homes I have been in there is not even a piece of paper or a pencil, but of course plenty of video games and potato chips and soda. Call me if you are interested. If you want to volunteer with me there is one firm requirement: you must commit to a certain length of time, usually six months once a week for a few hours in the afternoon. The kids simply don't bond easily as most adults in their lives just come and go and this causes more damage for them. Occasionally I have small part time positions open.
Currently Offering in 2010:
 Discovering the Great Reader
WE HELP YOUR KIDS BECOME GREAT READERS BY INTRODUCING
"THE AMAZING WORLD OF BOOKS”
Offering in-school and after-school enrichment classes that create a love of books and reading that will serve them in school and for the rest of their life.
Classes and Presentations Include:
WRITE, BIND & PUBLISH YOUR BOOK HOW TO FIND YOUR PASSION & VISION THROUGH BOOKS STARTING & MAINTAINING A SCHOOL BOOK CLUB, LIBRARY, OR BOOK SALE HOW TO GET INTO THE COLLEGE OF YOUR DREAM HOW TO BE A POET HOW TO KEEP A JOURNAL WRITE YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY
BOOKS AS ART BOOKSTORE FIELD TRIPS
I have experience with kids who are turned off to books and learning, and also with the opposite—kids who are crazy about books and want to deepen their skills and appreciation. I cultivate willing, happy readers even with the most recalcitrant and I have taught gang members and the illiterate. For the experienced reader I know what printed materials lead kids through quantum leaps in their knowledge and understanding. College-level and post doctorial materials available. Part of my "secret" is this: The best way to get kids interested in books is to first choose books that kids genuinely relate to and then give them away to create a true love of reading and book ownership. With nearly 30 years of deep immersion in the world of books and literacy (see my book company web page) I am able to provide the very finest book choices, ones that authentically interest kids, and not the usual fare they are provided in school. Fees are negotiable but generally, for short-term work the basic charge is $90.00 per hour plus a materials fee, usually $20.00 per student. Tutoring and consultations available. I also provide library and literacy-center design, and assessment of school library financial challenges and effectiveness. Over the last 27 years I have designed and built many libraries for specialist academics and rare book collectors in America and Europe. Now my focus is on homeless and foster kids. Over the last five years I've built 16 free libraries for shelter and foster kids in the Oakland Unified School District. The library should be the center of the school, and not the dull & distant room it often becomes. A library overhaul can often be done in one day, or an entire library can usually be installed, including shelving and library “card catalog”, in two to five days. Help kids reduce their screen time. A library provides a real and beautiful window onto the world unmatched by the internet! For five years I have taught in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, San Leandro and Santa Rosa schools, both public and private, and worked with kids in after school programs, homeless shelters, foster group homes, juvenile detention facilities, psychiatric wards and presented at literacy fairs. I was a full time literacy consultant for the Oakland Unified School District from 2004-2008. My teaching philosophy is grounded in a 20+ year study of both traditional and progressive pedagogy. This includes the writings of John Dewey, Maria Montessori, Rudolf Steiner, A. S. Neill, Bertrand Russell, Neil Postman, Lloyd DeMause, John Holt, John Taylor Gatto, The Nature Study Movement, Reggio Emilia, The Albany Free School, and The Modern School. The two contemporary educators who have informed my teaching philosophy the most are Ron Miller and Alfie Kohn. I have studied under Anne Beneventi, Linda Conklin of Kid Street Theater, and am a member of the Association Montessori Internationale, the International Psychohistorical Association, the American Nature Study Society (the oldest environmental organization in America), and AERO. If you would like to know more about my work please call or email. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. Letters of reference upon request. Todd Pratum ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
