Reading is Focus for Primary School Students During 'I Love to Read' Month
Reading is Focus for Primary School Students During 'I Love to Read' Month
Fostering a love of reading is one of the most powerful gifts educators and parents can give to children. February was "I Love to Read Month," which provided a perfect opportunity for staff at both Hilltop and Shirley Hills primary schools to encourage reading and celebrate the efforts each student made in their reading achievements.
Hilltop Primary School celebrated their 11th annual Read-a-Thon this year. February included some fun reading activities, like dressing up like a favorite book character, flashlight Fridays spent reading in the dark or under forts, all-school book bingo, and classroom door decorating of book themes. Read-a-Thon Day was celebrated on February 27 with several mystery readers and parent volunteers, who came in to read to classes.
“Reading is important to do all year round, but February is a special month where we put an emphasis on reading and get creative with different ways to celebrate efforts and promote reading to make it something students want to do on their own,” said John Wardlow, dean of students.
At Shirley Hills Primary School, students collected pledges for each book they read to support the 14th Annual Read-a-Thon. Funds raised will support author visits, adding new library books and refills to the book vending machine, and additional library needs. Principal Scott Eidsness urged parents to focus on reading at home, in the car, and at events as “finding sneaky ways to add up minutes in a book is super important.”
Shirley Hills hosted several Mystery Readers on February 27, an event that is often the highlight of the Read-a-Thon. Costumed readers took turns reading in the various classrooms before participating in a parade throughout the school so that everyone could enjoy the costumes. Students were also treated to visits from a pair of Minnesota authors during the month.
Kindergartners used flashlights to read in the dark, whisper read to each other, read books with their fourth-grade buddies, participated in group reading, and read to their favorite stuffies during the Read-a-Thon.
Students at both schools enjoyed fun activities all month that kept them engaged and excited to read! Special thanks went out to all the volunteer Mystery Readers.