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Youth
March 1 – 14, 2014
27
Students explore U.S. through books; library plans special programs BY TRACY HOUSE
Students at Payne Junior High School are traveling the country, via books. In an effort to encourage students to read, PJHS media specialist Stephanie Merrill sent kids on a cross-country journey through books set in different states as part of the nationally recognized program Read Across American that coincides with Dr. Seuss’ birthday. “Because it’s always called Read Across America we thought that if we could select books that took place in specific states that they (students) would read things that they would normally not,” explains Merrill. “We started doing this early in December so that they would read more books and the requirement would be higher, plus they had all of Christmas vacation to read.” Merrill says that 50 students signed up for the “Passport” and she anticipates 30 students will complete the six-book requirement to earn the incentive reward. “This year we’re providing a lunch and they’re going to play U.S.A. Bingo and I have bingo prizes and raffle prizes,” Merrill says. In addition, students will get a READ bookmark and tattoo. As students complete a book, they are asked to summarize or answer a question about the book to receive their passport stamp. Books were chosen for the setting and Merrill says she looked for quality literature. Students could choose to read books not on the state list and still receive a passport stamp. “No matter what they read we found a category for it,” Merrill says.
Francis Stokes, Ryan Blech, Garrett Kowalski and Zion Barney are some of the seventh grade students participating in the program. Encouragement to read six books came from their language arts teacher who said that if they read all six books they didn’t have to do a book report. Francis, 12, says she’s read all six books. “I went to Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma,” she says. It took her two months to read all six books. She says it was a challenge to read the books. Ryan, 12, traveled to Alaska, New York, New Hampshire and Illinois during his reading journey. “I read fiction books,” he says. “They were kind of adventure books.” Ryan says he learned about how some people can be so courageous by reading the books. It took him one and a half months to complete all six books. Garrett, 13, chose to participate in the program because of his teacher’s incentive and to try to read new books. He’s read four of the six books, but plans to have them all complete by the March 3 due date. He mentions he “traveled” to Arizona, Oregon and Florida. Zion, 12, says she doesn’t read unless she has to, but she’s read three books and is reading two at the same time. “I’ve been to Oregon, one of them was in California and Nevada.” Like the others, she says she chose to read the books instead of having to do the project. “I read the first three from Read Across America and the other three I picked out.” Merrill is hoping that next year, these then eighth graders will be a role model
for the incoming seventh graders and the program will encourage more students to read across America.
Read Across America Celebrate all things Seuss and enjoy a story and crafting at the Sunset Library, 4930 W. Ray Rd., Chandler. On March 4, the regular family storytimes will be celebrating Dr. Seuss. It is an interactive program for toddlers and pre-schoolers. There are games and songs that parents can use with their children later on at home, as well as stories read by the staff. Join Ms. Tish for stories, flannel board stories, fingerplays, songs and dance plus bubbles to honor Dr. Seuss from 10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Then at 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. March 19 the Family Funcrafting session will focus on Dr. Seuss as well. Again, there will be songs and stories, as well as a crafts for the family. There is no registration for either of these programs.
In-N-Out Reading Program at the Chandler Public Library Chandler Public Library is excited to partner with In-N-Out Burger again to provide this fun reading incentive program, March 1 through April 12. Children ages 4 to 12 who read five books at his or her reading level may earn a “Cover to Cover Club” reading certificate, along with a coupon for a free hamburger or cheeseburger from In-N-Out. Families can pick up a reading log from
COVER TO COVER: Encourage reading and enjoy a burger from In-N-Out during the Chandler Library’s reading incentive program. Information is available at all Chandler libraries.
any Chandler Public Library to enroll their children in the program. The log is used to list the titles of the book. After the five books are read, a parent or guardian signs the reading log and the child receives their certificate. Children too young to read may participate if an adult reads with them. Also, each child may earn up to three certificates during the program, while supplies last. For more information, call (480) 7822800, visit the library’s website at www. chandlerlibrary.org, or drop by one of the four library locations: Basha Library, 5990 S. Val Vista Dr.; Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave.; Sunset Library, 4930 W. Ray Rd.; or Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St. Tracy House is the news editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at tracy@santansun.com.