Third-grader Vanessa Urban (l) and her mother, Kathleen, enjoy reading together during the Big Book Bash at the Millstone Township Elementary School on April 1. For more photos, see www.gmnews.com. JEFF GRANIT staff In an era pervaded by television, the Internet and video games, parents must be vigilant to keep books from getting lost in children’s daily lives.
Most children start school with enthusiasm and a desire for reading, but by the time they reach the third grade only 54 percent continue to read for pleasure. The statistics get worse as children get older, with 27 percent of eighth-graders reading for pleasure daily. By the time they graduate high school, only 24.7 percent of students pick up something to read for fun on a daily basis, according to “Becoming a Nation of Readers,” one of the most widely read books in the field of literacy.
“Becoming a Nation of Readers” concludes the single-most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.
Clockwise from above: Third-graders in teacher Jennifer Kohn’s class lounge about with their favorite literature and learn the importance of reading for fun during the Big Book Bash at the Millstone Township Elementary School on April 1. Third-grader Luke Pascarella (l) makes his mother, Heather, smile with the silly rhymes and smart reasoning of Dr. Seuss. Third-grader Lucas (l) listens intently as his mother, Lucia Navroski, reads one of his favorite books. “Parents who read aloud to their children provide a model for expression, stopping to think and a love of books,” Millstone Township Elementary School third-grade teacher Jennifer Kohn said.
When parents are active participants in their children’s education, students learn more successfully, according to Kohn.
PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff “The parents, children and teacher are a team,” Kohn said. “If we don’t work together, if there is not a strong model at home for literacy, learning and thinking, then it will be hard for the children to accomplish anything.”
To help keep the love of literacy flourishing in children’s lives, Kohn organized a number of events throughout the school year that celebrate reading as fun for the whole family.
“In this day and age of testing, we don’t let our kids read enough for pleasure,” Kohn said. “They read to answer questions but sometimes it’s just nice to read and talk about it.”
Kohn organized events for entire school, as well as smaller events for her third grade class. More than 100 students in grades 3-5, as well as parents and teachers attended her Reading Night and Writing Night in February. Families had fun reading and writing, and parents learned strategies to help and encourage their children in these two challenging subjects, Kohn said.
During Read Across America Week from Feb. 28 to March 4, Kohn and special education teacher Jennifer Modula had their thirdgraders invite friends to a Book Buddies Breakfast, during which students took turns reading books and serving as literacy role models to toddlers. She also held another book breakfast during which parents read their favorite picture books to small groups of students.
“Sometimes it’s fun to read just for fun,” Kohn said. TheBigBookBash thatKohn andModula organized in the school library on the morning ofApril 1 further helped their students associate reading with pleasure. The event also gave the third-graders a chance to see their parents as reading role models.
“The parents are teachers too,” Modula said. “They continue the love of learning that goes on during the day.”
Third-grader Jonathan (l) reads one of his favorite books to his mother, Kris Fischer, during the Big Book Bash at the Millstone Township Elementary School on April 1. More photos at Photo Galleries, www.gmnews.com. JEFF GRANIT staff Parents and their children sat together on blankets and pillows strewn about the library floor and read for fun, which helped students improve and reinforce their reading and listening skills, broaden their interests and exercise their imaginations.
Parent Kathleen Urban said, “I think it’s important for families to show children that reading is a shared value and a shared experience.”
When the class broke down into small groups, each third-grader had a chance to share a short selection from a favorite text, as well as reasons why they loved the book and author. Parents helped their children keep a literacy log of the books their peers talked about so they would have a list of great books to read at home. Urban’s daughter, Vanessa, an aspiring illustrator, read from “The Midnight Unicorn” by Neil Reed and pointed out the fantastical artwork in the book. She told her classmates that they would enjoy the text because “it shows you how to use your imagination.”
Angela Bernieri shared a passage from “The Chocolate Touch” by Patrick Catling, a book about a boy who wakes up one morning to discover that everything he puts into his mouth tastes like chocolate. Angela said the book has the best plot and encouraged her classmates to read it because “we all love chocolate.” Third-grader Toni Crowe told her classmates to read “Because of Winn-Dixie” by Kate DiCamillo for its “touching characters that you can really relate to.” She said it was exciting to share her love for reading with her father during the event. Steve Crowe said that when parents and their children read together, children enhance their ability to read.
“And this one likes to write,” Crowe said noting his daughter. “She wants to publish a book.”
“Before the age of 12,” Toni added.
By the time she graduates to the fourth grade, Toni will know what it’s like to be an author, as Kohn and Modula plan to have students write, illustrate and publish stories using notebook computers and iPads. Helping their students develop strong writing skills is just as important as encouraging them to become lifelong readers. Afewweeks ago, the teachers celebrated their thirdgraders’writing talents with a Publishing Party. Students walked a red carpet into the classroom where parents gave themthe star treatment for reading excerpts of their prose. After listening to feedback about their stories from their fans, the writing celebrities took center stage for an apple juice toast to their hard work.
Kohn and Modula, who have worked together in the district for the past eight years, have turned their classroom into a richly literate writing and thinking workshop where students learn the skills they need to advance academically and have experiences that encourage them to become life-long learners. Kohn hopes her students will outshine the current statistics by always seeking out books for information and entertainment.
“Reading is the backbone of everything,” Kohn said. “If you can’t read, you can’t do math, you can’t follow directions, you can’t travel, you can’t comprehend, and you won’t succeed in life,” she said. “The more reading you do, the more successful you will become.”
Kohn’s motto for this day and age, “Books should be everywhere.”