Let the Books be in Your Favor

CHRISTY GERGITS AND DEB KRYGERIS

Let the Books be in Your Favor

TWO EDUCATORS IGNITE PASSION FOR READING WITH DISTRICT 58 STUDENTS

BY JANIS VON KAENEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAROLINA MENAPACE

In a digital world of computers, phones and tablets, with Netflix, YouTube and whatever else might be at our fingertips nowadays, it’s getting harder and harder for kids to pick up a book and do some good old- fashioned reading. However, two local teachers led a mission to change just that. Former Whittier Elementary School sixth-grade teacher Deb Krygeris and current reading specialist Christy Gergits were both inspired by other schools’ reading programs, such as Reading Olympics and Battle of the Books, that made kids excited to pick up a book and read.

"We talked about how great it would be to have a program like that,” Krygeris said. “We loved the idea of getting kids to read and talk about books.”

So the two took the concept to District 58, rolling out “The Reading Games” in 2013. Since then, it has opened kids’ minds and imaginations, while reaching new reading heights.

The Reading Games is a district-wide event for students from third through eighth grade with teams of up to eight students. The program’s name was inspired by The Hunger Games, a book series written by Suzanne Collins that was also made into a series of films. Its catchy name and pop-culture buzz contributed to students’ eagerness to participate. To get students involved and engaged in the program, Krygeris and Gergits ensured the reading lists captured students’ interests.

"I worked very hard to instill a love of reading in each of my students,” Krygeris said. “I’m an avid reader of children’s literature—particularly middle-grade literature—so I wanted a reading competition that included books that I knew kids would love."

But it wasn’t just a matter of creating a list of books that students would want to read: there was also a lot of collaborative involvement behind the scenes. Krygeris and Gergits spent the entire summer of 2013 formulating the logistics, and were also assisted by the district’s superintendent, liaisons from each of the 13 District 58 schools and the children’s department staff of the Downers Grove Public Library.

Using money raised from T-shirt sales and soliciting local businesses and families, Krygeris and Gergits were able to get The Reading Games off the ground. They even reached out to the authors that were featured on the reading lists for assistance, and many donated items to help promote the program.

The Reading Games was a success before the program even took place. When the registration window opened for the first time, Gergits was astounded by the results.

“I was flabbergasted at the speed at which teams were signing up,” she said. “Within a matter of hours, we had reached our cap of 95 teams. ... We were hoping for maybe 20 teams.”

The second year, it only took an hour before all available Reading Games team spots were filled.

But with the spirited representatives from each school who visited classrooms and talked about the program at school assemblies, coupled with the notices to parents to get involved, the registration turnout exceeded expectations.

“We had 95 teams of eight students that spent several months reading and talking about books,” Gergits said. “That, to me, was the grand prize.”

It didn’t matter if students had the highest number of points or the most team spirit: Gergits was just happy the students were reading. Krygeris agreed, adding that she wanted the students to fall in love with at least one of the books, and be able to feel and talk confidently about it. Seeing this happen and witnessing the event come to life was much more than the creators of The Reading Games expected.

Krygeris and Gergits were also surprised by the community support for the program. During the school-year, the Downers Grove Public Library had meeting rooms filled with students talking about the books from the program’s reading lists. The library staff made a list of practice questions, and hosted a day for the teams to come in to quiz each other in preparation for competition day. Many local businesses even provided prizes that were awarded to winning teams. “

We had 95 teams of eight students that spent several months reading and talking about books

—CHRISTY GERGITS

And without their fellow staff members at Whittier who jumped in to help, especially during the first year, Krygeris and Gergits don’t believe The Reading Games would be the success it is today.

Since the first year’s positive outcome, the Downers Grove Area Council of PTAs and the District 58 Education Foundation have helped to fund the program. Three parent volunteers emerged to take the reins from Krygeris and Gergits a few years ago, and have led the program to what it is today.

The seventh annual Reading Games competition will be held on Feb. 22 at O’Neill Middle School, and will challenge teams of students to answer questions about 12 books from one of two book lists, one geared toward readers from third through fifth grades, and the other geared toward readers from sixth through eighth grades.

The current organizers have also split the event into two parts, with younger students competing in the morning and older students in the afternoon, in an attempt to accommodate all students interested in participating. ■

More information about The Reading Games can be found at https://www.readinggamesdg58.com/.