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Union is wild about books
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Reyton Marakovich (left) and Nathan Scheck were deep in thought once their teachers told them to "think beyond" what happens in the story "Wild About Books."
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Brianna DiFabio looked very excited when she was congratulated for her skills in "thinking beyond" what happened in the story "Wild About Books."
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Mary Brant was a big fan of the books offered at Union's Scholastic Book Fair.
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Misty (rear) and Lydia Noble had to get a quick check of the merchandise before buying their books from Union's Scholastic Book Fair.
By SARAH FOOR
When students and parents entered Union Elementary on March 3, the first thing they saw was second-grade teacher Lyne Stoll, outfitted in khakis and a matching safari hat.
“I am your safari leader and zookeeper tonight,” she explained. “You are members of the zoo and on the search for the ‘Zoolitzer’ prize.”
Stoll planned the evening of literacy fun and games on “Wild About Books,” by Judy Sierra, which follows a group of zoo creatures as they search similarly for the famous prize. The mystery led Union first- and second-graders around the school collecting clues, and also learning important literacy skills with their parents in the meantime.
In stations around the school, the students learned three skills to make them better and more creative readers: Look ahead, stop and think, and think beyond. The Union second-graders showed the theories in action, and then explained concisely to parents how to bring those skills home.
While searching for the third clue, second-grade teacher Phyllis Jeswald asked her guests to think beyond the storyline of “Wild About Books.”
“What kind of other adventures can the zoo animals go on? Where else can they go?” Jeswald asked.
The students exchanged ideas, suggesting that the reading animals in the story can visit an aquarium, school, or park, among many other colorful adventures.
“Always allow your reader to think beyond like this,” Stoll told the parents after the students were finished. “Ask open-ended questions and allow them to think outside the box. They’ll become great storytellers in their own right when the creativity to create their own stories is instilled in them.”
The last clue on the search for the Zoolitzer led the students to a special early opening of the Union Scholastic Book Fair, where the parents and students seemed especially excited to buy some new books and support their school.
Big sellers at the fair included series books like “Flat Stanley,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” and “Pinkalicious.” The book sale is helping to build classroom libraries and add to Union’s school library.