The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Schools celebrate reading month
By Elaine Burnett, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: April 3, 2008
March is recognized for several things such as Parent Awareness, Health Awareness and March Madness but it's also recognized in schools throughout Michigan as March is Reading Month.
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Schools across the Ypsilanti district planned a host of activities for the month of March so students can get involved in reading.
Erickson Elementary School had a calendar called "March is Reading Month-2008". The calendar listed all the events that the school was hosting each day.
One of the events that the school held was called Reading Railroad. Jan Duncan, librarian, said that teachers went from class to class dressed in costumes and read to students. She said there were about 18 teachers that participated in the activity.
Margaret Baker author of the book "When I was a girl I dreamed" visited the school and read her book to students.
Duncan said she did a wonderful job and after Baker finished reading she talked to the children about the writing process and what it's like being an author.
Another activity the school hosted was an event called "Who-ville Hair Day." Duncan said they told children they could style their hair in a whacky "Who-ville" style in honor of Dr.Seuss and his books.
Estabrook Elementary planned an animal theme for March is Reading Month, "Animals tales with tails."
Special Education Teacher Consulant Kathy Micallef said they do a theme every year and this year they wanted to connect to the animals.
She said one of the things the students did was to pretend to grow a tail on their lockers. She also said that each time the children read a book they would get a piece of tail to put on their lockers.
Micallef said they had parent reading activity calendars that students took home and a lot of the activities that were animal related.
Students drew pictures of animals in their Art class, as just one of a number of animal-related activitied throughout the month. Micallef said the art teacher taught children how to draw animals in order to provide illustrations with their stories.
Chapelle Community School also had a variety of activities for students. One the activities included Eastern Michigan University basketball team reading to children.
Monica Hatta, media specialist, said that the children were mesmerized by the basketball players.
Another activity that the school held was a reading night. Hatta said the event was held in the gym and students and parents "camped out," for the evening complete with artificial bonfires, flashlights and paper mache trees.
Hatta said the school's theme for the month was "Reading Road Trip U.S.A" and the children got to pick the state they wanted to campout in that night.
Elaine Burnett is an intern for the View/Courier newspapers. She can be reached through editor@bellevilleview.com.
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