Committing to reading
Dr. Tina Sloan, Athens University math professor, reads “The 12 Days of Kindergarten” to a class of kindergarten students at Barkley Bridge Elementary School on Mon., May 20.
Barkley Bridge Elementary School students participated in Committed to Reading Day on Friday by taking an oath from Circuit Judge Jennifer Howell and listening to a panel of 20 guest readers at reading stations scattered throughout the campus.
Theme for the day was “Have You Read Any Good Math Lately?
“We want the kids to read and practice math during summer vacation,” said reading coach Cindy Hagemann. This will enable them to come back in August and pick up from where they left off in May.”
“Research shows if they don’t read and keep up their math skills during the summer, they will regress up to three months in their skill levels,” she added.
To underscore their commitment, students and parents signed off on a summer bucket list. It challenges the student to read 25 books or chapters (depending on grade level), review and study math facts, complete a new physical Achievement and a student’s choice project such as doing volunteer work.
The bucket lists will be turned in when the next school term begins and the students will be eligible to win prizes in a drawing.
Volunteer readers chose books that used numbers as part of the story message. The readers included: Judge Jennifer Howell, Police Capt. Tom Sparks, police officer Chad Guest, former mayor Dwight Tankersley, school board member Monte Vest, Dr. Nancy Horton, firefighter Jonathan Warner, retired principal Richard Gurley, retired teacher Sarah Ann Evans, Dr. Reba Wadsworth, Brent Worley, HHS students Haley Jared and Christina Holmes, Lori Jackson, Loria Allen, Wendy Henry, Sarah Ellis, Dr. Tina Sloan, former teacher Tara Sivley, Steven Campbell and Grace Harris.
