October 22, 2018
Lee Fuller
Kitty Stone Elementary transformed its normal school appearance into an enchanted wonderland last night. The reason for all this effort was simply to help parents understand what and how their students are being taught to read. The doors opened at 5:30 pm and parents had 30 or so minutes to look around with their children and tour all the hard work completed by teachers, parent volunteers, and of course by the students themselves. As guests wandered the halls they were met by many recognizable faces such as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, Anna from Frozen, Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Jasmine from Aladdin, and many more. Most of these characters were local Jacksonville High School students from the drama program volunteering their time. A few teachers and staff also participated as characters.
At 6:00 pm each student and their parents went to an assigned classroom for the first of three looks at reading comprehension. After twenty minuets the students and parents rotated to a second classroom, then eventually to their final class. Each grade had level specific lessons that identified the best ways to read, how to help your student, and understanding what the students sees and how they are tested.
The entire focus of the event was on the importance of genuinely reading for comprehension. As each student started in their first classroom they received a packet. For the second grade this included the story of Hansel and Gretel, highlighters, a flashlight, bookmarks with reading tips, and a question and answer packet.
The first classroom focused on “breaking the surface”. One example discussed was the importance of “sticky works” or words that the students might get stuck on while reading. Suggestions included placing words on the refrigerator and practicing using them on a daily basis.
In the second classroom the focus was “digging a little deeper”. Emphasis was placed on reading for deeper understanding. Suggestions were made such as to read with a pencil to make notes and to identify what type of work you are reading.
The third and final room was on “deep understanding”. Students were challenged to answer questions similar to what they might find on standardized test or even on their weekly reading tests.
All of these tips and suggestions were shared in a fun way that engaged the students and honestly, many of the parents as well. It was a very successful night that allowed the kids to play tour guide and also helped parents to get a better understanding of what their children are doing on a daily basis. It also gave parents a better idea of how to support and work with their children to make them stronger readers.
