Students cozy up to independent reading

DINGMANS FERRY — Read Across America Day saw many school pledges and projects to encourage students to read more. While elementary schools often use this Dr. Seuss remembrance day to "dress Seussically" and read lots of "Cat in the Hat," the Dingman-Delaware Middle School has worked to make every day a Read Across America Day — middle school style.

Since January, the students of Mrs. Nicole Cafarella’s READ 180 class have been working hard for the opportunity to sit in a saucer chair, donated to the class by Mr. Kevin Hastie, during independent reading time.

“This chair has been a great addition to my classroom,” Cafarella said. “The students love the idea of being able to relax and read in it. It is healthy competition among my readers to submit accurate reading logs, hoping to be chosen for the chair.”

Cafarella, along with an Instructional Assistant, Mrs. Liz Poltersdorf, decided to use the chair as an incentive to try to give all 36 of their students an equal opportunity to sit comfortably while reading. Since much educational research indicates that helping students become independent readers, creates lifelong learners, it is encouraging to note that one-third of the class has already earned the coveted award so far.

Librarian Mrs. Rachel Goldstein regularly challenges students to find something that they love and develop good readership habits.

In January, students and staff received a list of 38 different kinds of books for the 2016 Reading Challenge. Those who complete the entire list by December are sure to see a reward — not just tangible, but in the many benefits of reading as well.

In February, Goldstein wrapped books up so that students couldn’t see the cover. With just a genre printed on the wrapping, 28 students — 14 boys and 14 girls — completed the Blind Date With a Book challenge, reading more than 33 books in the few weeks that the contest ran. Readers were then asked to rate their book-“date” for a chance to enter to win chocolate-covered strawberries.

“I found the idea on Pinterest and thought it could be a fun display to get students to try new books,” Goldstein said.

Some students love it and find a new favorite author.

“I try not to put any currently very popular books in the rotation," Goldstein said. "Instead, I try to choose good books that often get looked over, or classic stories that students may not have read yet."

Blind Date challenge winner Seth Williams appreciated that.

“It’s good to try new genres, because you don’t know if you like it, if you don’t try it," he said.

Seth usually prefers to read fantasies but settled for a sports novel when he arrived and found the display out of fantasy books. Not only did Seth win, but he also enjoyed his blind-date," The Outside Shooter" by Thomas Dygard, and admitted he would choose to read a sports novel again.

Another student, Jason Henderson, who is not a big fan of reading, also selected a Sports blind-date-book, "Hoops" by Walter Dean Myers.

"I don't want to marry it, but I do really like the book,” Henderson joked. “We dated for about five weeks and I liked it."

Fellow contestant Mirabella Demmo said of her date, "It's a small little adventure into a different world that is different from anything you've ever done before."

So during this Seuss-inspired reading month, take the challenge to cozy up to independent reading and encourage the young people in your life to do the same.