Readers rewarded with pizza from Scrappy


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Neighbors | Submitted .Scrappy was around to offer some high-fives to the Lloyd readers.

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Neighbors | Sarah Foor.Treats were also available to enjoy at the reading party, and Chloe Hathaway (center) enjoyed a complimentary cupcake during the festivities.

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After the party was over and the pizza was eaten, Speece (right) had her students show off their skills by reading to their classmates. Kindergartner Ian Teeters (left) conquered big words like "insect" and "polka-dot" with ease.

By SARAH FOOR

sfoor@vindy.com

At an age when they’re only required to know certain letters of the alphabet, Robin Speece’s Lloyd kindergartners have managed to read 1,684 books since January.

The students’ reading extravaganza became a winning entry in the Scrappy’s Scholars Reading Club and for their dedication, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers mascot Scrappy visited the school and brought a pizza party as congratulations.

The contest asked the students to fill out bookmarks for the books they read for the program. The Lloyd kindergarten classroom is one of the 30 best readers in the area that Scrappy will visit.

“I think part of our success was that we kept our total a secret,” Speece observed. “Everyone read at their own pace and when we added our totals together, it was a wonderful surprise win.”

Scrappy visited the classroom with officials from the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, bringing pizza, drinks, and cookies. Scrappy offered a special invitation to Eastwood Field on July 13, where the students will be recognized for their reading by being called down to center field.

After Scrappy left, Speece’s class celebrated the best way they knew how — by reading. Kindergartners like Ian Teeters and Emily Orlaski conquered big words like “insect” and “polka-dot” with ease as they read aloud to their classmates.

The reading had Speece reflecting on how far her students have come.

“To remember how they were hardly reading at the beginning of the year, compared to where they are now, it’s astounding. These kids are reading at a second- and third-grade level, and I’m so proud of all of their hard work,” the teacher shared.