ACSD students celebrate Read Across America ...

Hundreds of students from the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) celebrated the National Read Across America event together Tuesday, March 1. District Teacher Librarian Lisa Snitker and the elementary reading committee organized the annual paired reading event in the Waukon High School/Middle School Auditorium. Students from East and West Elementary partner-read with Waukon Middle School students, reading print books and eBooks on the middle school student laptops, as pictured in the surrounding photos.

Promoting reading through peer modeling encourages learning and love for books. Through the event students gain reading skills, socially interact and build new relationships. Teachers and staff from Waukon Middle School, and East and West Elementary Schools remarked that it is an amazing opportunity for older and younger students to connect in a positive and rewarding experience. Some of the participating elementary students provided the following comments: Kayden - “I liked that my friend read my favorite book;” Briar - “I like that we got to read on the computer;” Zoey - “I learned about butterflies;” Cooper - “I read about racing.”

Students also participated in reading-themed dress-up days throughout the week, as well as other classroom activities. Those dress-up days included Monday, February 28 - “Reading is Rad,” wear a favorite plaid; Tuesday, March 1 - “Wild About Reading,” wear an animal print; Wednesday, March 2 - “Words, Words, Everywhere,” wear clothing with kind words; Thursday, March 3 - “Hide Behind a Good Book,” wear camouflage; and Friday, March 4 - “Shhh-Quiet in the Library,” dress up like a librarian. Students in the Waukon High School Little Switzerland FFA chapter also created a virtual read-aloud for students to view on the ACSD Schools Library Website called “Right This Very Minute,” a book about farming and where food comes from. Submitted photos.