Friday, April 28, 2006
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Taft Elementary School community is "Buggy About Books" and spent Thursday afternoon proving it.
Pupils and their parents took part in the second family reading event Thursday that used replicas of friendly insects as tools to enhance reading skills.
The goal is to get parents into the school with their children to work on activities that promote reading, said Laura Sullivan, teacher and literacy coordinator.
She and Melissa Ustik, speech pathologist, came up with the program idea last year.
At the end of the two-hour event, each child is given two books, bought by or donated to the school, to take home.
"We encourage them to develop their home libraries," Sullivan said.
Important activity
"It's a good activity for my daughter," said Jada Freeman of Avondale Avenue, as she watched her fourth-grade daughter, Miranda Brown, approach one of the reading station tables set up for the event.
Reading is "very, very important" in her home, Freeman said.
The event is a chance "to do an activity with the family," said Katrina Montero of Detroit Avenue, who was attending with her husband, Jose, and daughters Shyla, a third-grader, and 3-year-old Shalynn.
"We're always reading to them," Katrina said, adding that events such as family reading night help broaden her daughter's education.
Jose said the event gives him a chance to be with his daughters in the school setting and to see what programs the school is offering.
"We like it a lot. They have a fun time," he said.
Getting parents involved is important, said Tasha Petaccio of Homestead Avenue, who was attending with her two sons, James, a first-grader, and Marcello, who is in kindergarten.
"When they see me reading and having a good time, it sets a good example for them," she said.
Tasks at hand
The event came complete with refreshments, but before they could eat, children had to complete at least six of the eight reading stations set up in the gym.
Each station had a different focus, using friendly insects as a focal point for reading.
One station required children to read and follow directions to work their way through an ant farm layout on the wall.
Another required a knowledge of both reading and math to "measure up worms," using drawings of worms on the wall and tape measures.
"We bring families and children together to enhance and encourage family reading," said Michael Schubert, Taft principal, estimating that at least 500 people would filter through the school gymnasium before the program ended.
gwin@vindy.com