2019 Gumbo final - Book - Page 88
Reading is Fun
Children Are Reminded That Reading is
Exciting For All Ages
LSU College of Human Sciences and Education students and
faculty showed elementary students that reading is exciting for
all ages. Volunteers from the University read to students from
Buchanan Elementary School from Feb. 27 to March 1 to celebrate
Read Across America.
Read Across America, sponsored by the National Education
Association, promotes reading motivation and awareness
and encourages every child to enjoy reading. The program is
celebrated on March 2, the birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss.
All students and faculty within the college were invited to
participate in the program by going to Buchanan
Elementary and reading books to students in grades pre-K through
fifth. Over 30 students and faculty members volunteered over the
three-day period, including the School of Education Interim Dean
Roland Mitchell and School of Education Director F. Neil Mathews.
College of Human Sciences and Education Director of Advocacy
and Engagement Renée Boutte Myer said the program has even
attracted volunteers from outside the college.
“They just heard about it, showed up and are coming back to
volunteer again because they had so much fun,” Myer said.
The University has partnered with Buchanan Elementary for
Read Across America for three years. Myer works with Buchanan
Elementary librarian Michael Guess to coordinate specific times
when volunteers can read to students in each of Buchanan
Elementary’s seven grade levels.
Guess said Buchanan Elementary’s partnership with the University
has greatly benefited the students and their families.
“It means a lot not only to the kids, but also to the community,”
Guess said. “Parents have the chance to come and see their kids
in the classroom having some fun and what we do as a school to
accommodate their needs.”
Students were encouraged to dress up during themed days during
the week. Students could wear silly socks on Tuesday, dress as
their favorite book character on Wednesday and wear Dr. Seuss
hats on Thursday.
Guess said Buchanan Elementary prioritizes its students’ reading
and writing skills.
Besides the school’s partnership with the University for Read
Across America, Buchanan Elementary students participate in a
range of activities, including book fairs and the Accelerated Reader
program, to develop their reading comprehension and language
skills.
School of Education instructor and Elementary Homes program
supervisor Julie Rollins said it’s imperative that students
develop reading skills because reading is the fundamental
basis for all subjects. Reading aloud to children is even more
beneficial because it helps children develop their language and
comprehension skills.
Rollins said children must hear a word three times to imprint it
into their memory. Through consistent oral reading, children can
quickly learn many words and build their vocabularies.
“Reading aloud is just great all the way around,” Rollins said. “I
can’t think of one negative aspect of reading aloud. It’s one of the
most important things we can model for children and encourage
them to do.”
Student volunteers from the University were excited to act as
role models by reading with the Buchanan Elementary students.
Kinesiology senior Joshua Growden read to a pre-K class at
Buchanan Elementary and enjoyed it so much he volunteered
again the next day.
“It’s a cool opportunity to hang out with some kids and have some
fun reading to them,” Growden said. “The book I chose for the
pre-K class had some great pictures, so they loved it. Seeing their
reactions was really cool.”
Kinesiology senior Jacob Shipper also enjoyed his volunteering
experience, especially because of the impact it had on the
students he read to.
“It was fun seeing all the kids when you walk in the room and
they’re all excited,” Shipper said. “You might think reading a book
to a couple of kids isn’t really that much, but you can see that it
really means something to them.”
Story // Bailey Chauvin
Photo // Reveille Photographer
Design // Rachel Hurt
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