Anita S. Rodgers, M.Ed.
Why Breakers Island?
Read…Read…Read…
Parents often hear this sage advice. They soon discover that storybooks, like children, usually come without instructions.
If you are looking for a creative and interactive learning approach with children, let your imagination take flight and join us on Breakers Island.
My labor of love entitled, Breakers Island, is a collection of short stories featuring a delightful cast of characters in a magical setting. Each story offers a myriad of real-life learning experiences.
Once you visit her beautiful shores, you will be eager to return. My five-year-old grandson loves our adventures on Breakers Island and often retells the stories to me.
Title: Breakers Island, Copyright © 2012
Trish Rowland, M.Ed.
Why Breakers Island?
As a child’s first teachers, parents are often eager to instill a love of reading in their children. The life-long skill of reading not only provides wonderful bonding moments, but also ignites the imagination, develops language skills, and prepares children for school.
My efforts to develop a companion book for Breakers Island created a fun and easy-to- use guide with invaluable tips and activities designed to engage children in learning. There is such a positive difference in the response of children and parents when they are involved in a truly interactive reading experience.
Adventure awaits you on Breakers Island. Discover the joys of getting lost in a story and sharing the magical moments in creating lasting impressions.
Title: Breakers Island, Interactive Learning Activities, Copyright © 2016
Team of Contributors
Thomas Wollenberger
Illustrator
At the age of fifteen, Thomas Wollenberger began illustrating Breakers Island. Over the next three years, he continued to bring the characters to life.
Now a college student at the University of North Florida, he has an intended major in industrial and product design. He is also an aspiring entrepreneur working towards establishing his own company, Aeroasis, with plans to manufacture and distribute automated plant systems for personal farming applications.
Alpesh Patel
Father, Educator, Strategic Advisor
Chief Brand Harmonist – eSANGHE, LLC
I am a seasoned Business Advisor & Brand Strategist with over 20 years of Internet and 28 years of Technology Marketing & Product Life-cycle experience as an Entrepreneur, Strategic Advisor, and Technology Enthusiast.
I have had the pleasure of working with Anita & Trish and helping them transform their vision from print to a digital business model – blending Membership, eCommerce, Digital Content and Platform Independence (iPhone/Smartphone, iPad/Tablet, Mac/PC, SmartTV, Chromecast/Roku/AppleTV).
Why Breakers Island?
Simple – Breakers Island is an intersection of three passions: Family Literacy, Entrepreneurship, and Technology harmonized to create a positive product for our families and communities. Breakers Island will bring together families reading (where children love – digitally) and exploring fun activities on a path to developing their literacy skills.
Supporting Breakers Island and fostering community partnerships is an important component of my commitment to impact early childhood literacy and the concept of “Success by Grade Three.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Content Review & Comment
Our thanks to family, friends, and literacy professionals for generously volunteering their time and expertise to Breakers Island.
Christalee Burkett, Roxann Campbell, Diana Dunwoody, Claudia Gilstrap, Shelley Rodgers Gilstrap, Kathy LeBlanc, Teresa Reeves, Michael Rodgers, Ryan Rodgers, Elaine Whitmore, Dana Willaford
Demonstrations & Focus Groups
Special thanks to our demonstration and focus groups for their exploration of Breakers Island through stories and activities. Their comments and insights were invaluable as we customized and enhanced interactive learning for families.
Parents and children participating in the Family Education Program, “Parent Power,” at:
- Freedom Shores Elementary (2013-2014) – Teachers: Julia Clark and Gloria Gutierrez
- Green Acres Elementary (2014-2015) – Teacher: Julia Clark
- Forest Hill Elementary (2014-2016) – Teachers: Christina Abelenda, Herlie Guaramata, Maria Rosales, and Flurina Wollenberg
Graphic Design
Mary Leesman, Freelance Graphic Designer
Text Editor
Barbara Gershman, Managing Director
We Write For You, LLC
