BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer
FARRAH MAFFAI staff District human resources director Kerry Rizzuto reads to Laura Puccio’s first-grade class during Read Across America at Livingston Park Elementary School in North Brunswick last Thursday.
NORTH BRUNSWICK — Township elementary school students shared in the nation’s joy of reading last week.
Community members from all walks of life took time out of their busy schedules last Thursday to read their favorite books and emphasize the importance of reading with John Adams Elementary School students during Read Across America.
A nationwide annual event, Read Across America encourages students to read with a weeklong program of special lessons and events that generate interest in the activity.
First-grade teacher Jennifer Davis said inviting her sister, Jacqueline Hendy, to read "The Pain and the Great One" helped to better engage the students in the material of the book.
"It made the story, which was about the different perspectives of two siblings, very real to them," Davis said. "I enjoyed having my sister here, and it is important for my students to see that people of all different backgrounds, from actresses to government officials, read."
Hendy, a Broadway actress who recently appeared in the Tony award-winning play "Nine" with Antonio Banderas and Chita Rivera, engaged the 20 students sitting on the area rug in front of her in the story by emphasizing silly words and asking questions about the characters between the turn of each page.
"The story tells the viewpoints of both the older and the younger child and the fact that they both think that their parents loved the other sibling better than them," Hendy said.
When a student asked if her relationship with her sister compared to the relationships in the story, Hendy said, "I love my sister very much."
Down the hallway, Linda Davis’ first-grade class enjoyed the company of her husband, Councilman Bob Davis, as their guest reader.
After he read two books to the children, Mr. Davis explained the importance of reading.
"It is important for a child to read to increase vocabulary and simply for the joy of it," Mr. Davis said.
He explained that success in all careers depends on reading.
"In school they teach you about the three R’s, reading ’riting and ’rithmetic, but reading helps with all other subjects and is instrumental in achieving your goals," Mr. Davis said.
At the beginning of first grade, Mrs. Davis said, her students usually cannot read very well.
"To teach the children how to read, I use strategies including guided reading, group reading, pictures and memorization," Mrs. Davis said.
Her students also create their own small book with a story and illustrations throughout the school year.
"We work from a rough draft that we revise and edit until at the end of the year; each book has a Davis Publishing Co. 2004 stamp and a back pocket with a library card so the author can lend their book out," Mrs. Davis said.
With other special events, including a visit by children’s author Pat Bryson, a family night of reading, and a celebration of the 100th birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss that tie into the first-grade curriculum, Mrs. Davis said first-grade students graduate with the ability to move on to the next reading level.