Dominique Kooiker | Editor
dkooiker@ncppub.com
Each February at Central Lyon Elementary School is reading month, when students are encouraged to pursue a lifelong love of reading.
“Every year students in grades TK-4 at Central Lyon participate in a reading incentive program during the month of February. This year’s theme is ‘Read Like an Animal!’ based on Sandra Markle’s books,” said Jodi Schrick, Central Lyon TK-12 teacher librarian.
Throughout the month, students are encouraged to read at home. Students brought home bookmarks to complete each week, recording time reading at home. Completed bookmarks could be turned in for prizes.
In addition to the reading students do at school, additional reading at home provides students a wide range of benefits. Regular reading at home helps build vocabulary and comprehension skills. Reading helps foster concentration and focus. Reading at home can also cultivate a lifelong love for reading by allowing students to explore topics of personal interest at their own pace.
In addition to participating in the reading program for prizes, students were also able to participate in two special “dress-like-an-animal” days and a pajama day.
To kick off the reading program, Central Lyon invited author Sandra Markle to do a virtual visit with elementary students Feb. 5. Students gathered in the high school auditorium where they were able to listen to and interact with Markle in real-time as she gave her presentation on the big screens.
“Today we get to learn about a remarkable author, someone who turns science into adventure on every page. Sandra has written more than 200 books for young readers. Her exciting ‘What If You Had…?’ series helps us imagine having the super-powered features of amazing animals. She also writes real-life animal stories full of courage, problem-solving and discovery. Sandra Markle invites us to be curious, ask questions and see science as something fun and full of surprises,” said Schrick as she introduced Markle during her virtual visit.