Teachers dressed as Pete the Cat, Amelia Bedelia and more read to students
Last week, B. Bernice Young Elementary School teachers dressed up as various book characters and read to students at the district’s first-ever character night.
The students were separated into stations where Amelia Bedelia, Stripes, Pete the Cat, Mrs. Frizzle, Fly Guy, Mouse Paint, Snow White and Winnie the Pooh read to them.
“The original idea was that each teacher would select a character from one of their favorite books, dress up and read to the groups,” event organizer and teacher Kelly Gamez said. “The teachers took this to the next level by providing an extension activity to follow their book.”
Gamez says Mrs. Frizzle from “The Magic School Bus” erupted a fake volcano after reading her book. Art teacher Vincent Giannetto read the book “Mouse Paint” about primary and secondary colors, then had students conduct color-mixing experiments. Pete the Cat followed up his book with a button math game for families to complete together. Stripes and Amelia Bedelia allowed their students to make colored masks while they read, and Snow White and Winnie the Pooh had role play conversations in between books.
“We had the largest number of families attend this family reading night than any other reading night,” Gamez said. “The event was a huge success thanks to the teachers and families joining in on the fun.”
Character night was part of the district’s Family Learning Series program. Director of Human Resources and Community Relations Liz Scott says the purpose of the series is to “create a partnership between the home and school by reinforcing the curriculum, as well as state and national standards.”
Scott added the program provides families with the opportunity to learn and work together in a fun atmosphere while creating positive dialogue.
“Families will learn ways to become more involved with their child’s academic education,” Scott said. “More importantly, it gives parents the opportunity to spend one-on-one quality time with their child.”
Scott was one of the teachers who founded the Family Learning Series in 1992. When it began, it was just a family math program. When she became an administrator, Scott worked to expand the program. Today, the series includes a ceramics night, art, reading, music and astronomy.
“As the coordinator of the program and a parent who attended with my son, I see this evening as a huge success,” Scott said on the character night. “Families were engaged, made new memories and were involved in cross-curricular interactions. There was laughter, smiles, and everyone was involved with literacy, which is very important.”
Scott added her son told her it was the “best night ever,” and she’s excited to hold the event again next year.
B. Bernice Young Elementary School will hold its next family reading night, that will feature a popular children’s book author, on March 9.
