Jefferson School on a Reading Crusade
Jefferson Primary School is on a crusade to develop a love for reading in each one of its more than 425 students. Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide is leading the campaign, which is backed by the building's faculty and support staff.
Every month Ms. Capitulo-Saide selects and shares a recently published book with students across every grade level. Classroom teachers read the book to their class and the youngsters create responses. It's all part of an initiative to get students interested in an activity that is essential to academic success.
Ms. Capitulo-Saide provides teachers with ideas to enrich the selected books, such as writing about text-to-text connections, creating multi-step math word problems and researching more information about the author or topic.
The principal posts student responses, along with her feedback to them, on a bulletin board placed prominently near the school's main entrance so visitors can peruse the work. It's a popular stop for parents and other family members.
To date, Ms. Capitulo-Saide has chosen the following books: Fireboat by Maira Kalman; Yucky Worms by Vivian French; Balloons over Broadway by Melissa Sweet; The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce and Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills.
Jefferson School second grader Sophie Bradford was able to experience a special connection with Fireboat when she visited the John J. Harvey fireboat featured in the work. "Sophie was excited to share that she was aboard the same boat discussed in the book," Ms. Capitulo-Saide said.
The Jefferson reading initiative is an ongoing success. "The goal of the monthly books program is to develop a community of readers, where we discuss themes in shared texts school-wide," Ms. Capitulo-Saide said. "I want to encourage and promote a love for reading and writing."