This year’s Pick a Reading Partner program at Birch Lane Elementary School introduced a new partnership, as youngsters enthusiastically welcomed guest readers from Massapequa High School on Jan. 12 and 16.
About 20 students from public speaking classes, an English elective for grades 10-12, made the short journey to read children’s books to kindergarten, second and third grade classes on Jan. 12. Four days later, another group of students read to Birch Lane’s first, fourth and fifth grade classes, ensuring that every class has at least one guest reader.
The students are in Teresa Colgan and Christine Starr’s public speaking classes. Birch Lane librarians Jacqueline Lee and Evangeline King provided students with children’s books from the school library. The high school visitors either read independently or with a small group.
Curriculum Associate for English Language Arts and Library Media Tina Farrell said that Birch Lane Principal Stephen Aspetti and Assistant Principal Joyce Larkin reached out about having high school students come in during the two-week PARP program to serve as reading role models for their elementary peers. The high school opened the opportunity to interested students from six public speaking classes, as a way for them to practice their oral communication skills.
“It’s a great way to show the young students that reading is so important and that they should keep up with it,” Ms. Farrell said. “Our high school students can practice their public speaking skills by using expression while they read.”
The high school students enjoyed the experience. Austin Crespo, who read a book about dinosaurs to a second grade class, said the children asked insightful questions. Keira Felker and Emma Natale both noted that the classes they read to were attentive audiences and immersed in the stories.
“I liked how engaged they were,” Drue Miller said. “They were really great listeners and they really seemed to enjoy having a guest reader.”
Lise Jean, who read “It’s Cool to Be Kind,” had a thoughtful discussion with second graders about ways they can show kindness.
Lillian Dooher said it was a judgement-free way to practice her public speaking skills, as the second graders were involved in the story and excited about having a high school student read to them. After finishing the book, Lillian and her fellow guest readers talked to third graders about life at the high school, including the books they read and research they do in English classes.