The WEAC Read Across America Forum

Comments  6

1. Dana Westedt 1/28/2010

   South School would love to have some of WEAC's Leadership Team come and read to students at our school.  Each year we celebrate RAA by highlighting reading all week!  Each day has a different theme, and this year's themes include "Reading is Glamorous" on March 1st where students & staff can wear their finest clothes to school, "Reading Makes You A Champion," students/staff will wear athletic clothing, "Take Your Book to Bed," and we'll have pajama day, etc. Our Food Service Dept. serves a Seuss-like meal for lunch on March 2nd. The dress up days make the week more memorable, and teachers in individual classrooms host their own fun Seuss activities, too. I have organized Reading Week at South School for the past 8 years, and for 9 years prior to that when I served as Library Media Specialist. Come on March 1st - where will you ever see so much glamour connected to Reading!
   

2. Julianna Benish 1/21/2010

   I teach seventh grade English at Jerstad-Agerholm Middle School in Racine, WI and I have many students who are hesitant to read.  It's like pulling teeth to get some of them to pick up a book.  Our school does not have an organized or scheduled "reading time" so with a special guest, students might get the message that reading is important.  With all of the texting and facebooking nowadays I do not want middle school students to forget to read.  Some of them say, "it's not cool to read."  I love books, I read books to my classes, and I display books around the room.  My students see me dance and sing about books.  I want all my students to share the love for books that I have and I hope that they will remember why reading is important by the time they leave middle school.  If we could have a visitor like you in our building I think it would benefit students' perception of reading.  I would hope that some of the negative feelings students have about reading would turn positive.  
   
   
   We'd love to have you come read to our students here at JAMS!
   
   
   Julianna Benish
   English Department
   Jerstad-Agerholm Middle School
   
   

         
   

3. Tricia Wersal 1/10/2010

   Third graders are the "tweeners" of elementary school.  They aren't the intermediate students nor are they the youngest in the school.  They are always looking for their place.  I try to give my class positive models to show that what we do here is important.  We've had members of the administration, high school students, parents, retired teachers, and local community members take part in activities, tutor, read aloud, or volunteer in the classroom.  The children love to have these guests.  They look on them with admiration and what they do and share matters to these kids.  You don't have to wear a cape and tights to be a hero in their lives.  Expanding our guests beyond our town would be yet another thrill for my students.  Seeing another person who uses reading every day would be an excellent experience.  In a time where they see their heroes fall, let's help them see how the more tangible heroes have used their education.
   
   Ms. Wersal's third graders
   

4. Kathi gallus 1/9/2010

   Trenton School is rural and quaint
   where the CAT would love to sing and paint,
   our school is small  -
   in fact we're like a family, all 115 of us have a ball!!
   
   the second graders love to read,
   and hearing guests is the perfect     'seed'
   to plant
   so, come and visit --- don't say you can't !!!
   
   Kathi Gallus and the Trenton Second Graders
   
   I  have taught second grade at Trenton Elementary school in Beaver Dam for over 25 years.  Reading is the major emphasis if my day.  My students truly enjoy Dr. Seuss books with the patterned words and funny events.  I love to see  my children's eyes light up when they discover the joy of sounding out a new word, connecting the book to another book or event, or discover that they are independent readers and can read a story on their own. Connecting to THE CAT IN THE HAT would really rock our world. :)
   
   
   
   

5. Michelle Byholm 1/7/2010

   I am the media specialist for the Mellen School District, a PK-12 one building school district. Each year the elementary students watch the older students do “crazy things” during Homecoming Week, so I created a similar week for the elementary during RAA. During that week there are reading contests, classroom activities, dress up days, and a reading pep rally the last day.
   
   Each year I invite several key community members to come in and read to the students. This is one of the highlights of the week.  And that is why; I think it would be great to have one of the members from the Leadership Team read to the students on that day. It would be the first time we would have a guest reader from outside of the community come in and read.
   I’ll even make sure the dress up day isn’t Fairy Tale day. Maybe PJ day! Can’t wait to have a “special” guest come to our school for RAA.
   

6. Kathy Redalen 1/7/2010

   I teach Kindergarten at Royal Oaks Elementary School in Sun Prairie, WI. Reading is our biggest focus in Kindergarten. We love Clifford, Lois Ehlert, Bill Martin jr., and Jan Brett. Today we read the story, "Geraldine 's Big Snow". The students enjoyed each character and how they prepared themselves for the big snow storm.
   My class is somewhat spirited, but read them a story and every student is engaged. Books with rhymes and repetition, like the Dr. Seuss Books, are their favorites. 
   
                                                        We'd love to hear you come and read;
                                                            It would be such a special deed.
                                                            Please bring the Cat and the Hat,
                                                            And the kids will listen just like that!
                                                            Sun Prairie is not far,
                                                            You may travel here by car.
   
                                                               Hope to see you soon!
                                                                  Mrs. Redalens' Class

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