Michigan after-school involves parents and kids
Kids read to parents in after-school program
Smith Elementary tracks student levels of comprehension
Friday, February 03, 2006
BY LAURIE HUMPHREY
News Special Writer
http://www.mlive.com/news/aanews/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1138981797204790.xml&coll=2
At a time when most people are sitting down to dinner, staff at Fowlerville's Smith Elementary regularly serve up a little extra knowledge to students hungry for success.
Family Reading Night is a local initiative that supports the national Accelerated Reader (AR) plan for children in first through sixth grades. It offers students the chance to boost reading skills outside school hours while allowing children to show off their skills to parents, grandparents and other supporters.
"It's an amazing program and a great way to get families reading together,'' said Smith Principal Jim Kitchen. He regularly attends the program not only as administrator but as a parent of two young students.
Families are invited to the school library between 5 and 7 p.m., twice a month. Students choose a book, based on an ability level pre-determined by their teacher, and read it to their parents. Students can read as many books as they like before moving into the adjacent computer room, where they take comprehension tests.
Results of the five-question computerized test are available immediately, but also are stored in students' files for teachers to review.
"This allows all teachers to keep track of student progress in their rooms (even if the kids are reading outside the classroom),'' said Kitchen.
Students also may test during the school day in their classrooms as part of their regular AR assignments.
Miki Sacker, of Conway Township, enjoyed going to Family Reading Night Jan. 24 with her first-grade daughter, Bronsyn, 7.
"It makes reading fun and helps them develop a love for reading,'' said Sacker, who cited an added benefit. "It also makes parents take time out.''
Under the AR plan, students gain points for every book read and receive incentives based on points. Five points yield a bookmark while students with 50 points win lunch with the principal, supplied by Wendy's Restaurant.
Kasie Russell, 7, is 10 points on her way to winning lunch.
"I like to have a lot of AR points,'' said the first-grader. She plans to forego the smaller prizes so she can "have lunch with Mr. Kitchen.''
Her mom, Lisa, supports Family Reading Night and the point system "so students will continue to read.''
She also praises librarian Gail Tupy and the teachers who volunteer time to the program for "keeping it open and fun.''
According to Tupy, Family Reading Night has blossomed since it began three years ago with just five or six families. Now 30-40 families now attend each event, possibly explaining Smith's improved reading comprehension results cited during December's accreditation inspection.
Tupy also noted the social benefit of the program.
"The parents get to see other parents, and the students get to see classmates outside of the regular classroom,'' she said. "It's rare that the whole family gets invited in after school hours in such a casual setting.''
Josh Nabozny, 7, began attending the program last year as a kindergartner. This year, he and his mother, Debbie Nabozny, are joined by younger sibling, Jacob, 4.
The trio from Conway Township spend time reading and working on the computer, together.
"This is a great program," said Nabozny, who doesn't mind coming straight from work. "Reading is so important, especially for young children.''
For more information on Family Reading Night, call 517-223-6005. Kreeger Elementary runs a similar program monthly. To learn more about that program, call 517-223-6006.
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