43
Market St. Elementary students dress up for Right to Read program
BOARDMAN
Cruella de Vil, wrapped in her signature fur coat, walked the hallways of Market Street Elementary.
Harry Potter, complete with glasses and a wand, led a group of students into the library.
A dinosaur sat at attention, ready to listen to a story.
The characters were at the school Wednesday as part of the district’s Right to Read program. Throughout the week, students at all four elementary schools are participating in daily themes and learning about the importance of reading.
Wednesday’s theme was “Be a Real Character.” Students were asked to bring in their favorite book or dress up as their favorite book character.
The week’s events aim “to encourage kids to read more, and influence the level of reading,” said Julie Kamenitsa, reading specialist at Market Street Elementary. “It’s like anything: The more you do it, the better you become.”
The recommendation is that students in first grade read 10 minutes per night, with 10 minutes added per grade level, Kamenitsa said.
As part of Right to Read Week, reading logs were sent home with students to encourage nightly reading; students are rewarded if their teachers see them reading during any downtime during the school day; and teachers ask students to “Drop Everything and Read” for 15 minutes each school day, among other initiatives.
Students also have been listening to guest readers all week. On Wednesday, Market Street Elementary kindergarten students had a visitor from the Butler Institute of American Art. Butler Education Assistant Maggie Kamenitsa (Julie’s daughter) read two stories: “My Many Colored Days” by Dr. Seuss and “Norman the Doorman” by Don Freeman.
Students then got to show off the special outfits they had chosen for the day.
Kindergarten student Liam Hall wore a dinosaur suit.
“I dressed up as a dinosaur because I like science,” he explained.
Autumn Miller, wearing a long polka-dotted dress, a dramatic hat and pearls, channeled the “Fancy Nancy” character.
At first glance, Cor’rae Love didn’t appear to be dressed in costume – until the kindergarten student explained that she was dressed as an author.
“Because I’m an author,” she said.
She has already written books, she said, such as a nonfiction book about the importance of eating vegetables.
Cor’rae wants to be a writer, she said, “Because I like to read.”