Ramping up reading

Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School in Island Park is ramping up its usual reading routine in celebration of the school's Parents as Reading Partners month. A series of special events planned through the beginning of February are meant to build upon year-round efforts to encourage reading.

PARP, a national initiative to support reading at school and at home, works differently in each district, explained Adele Pecora-Dusanenko, Island Park's director of instruction, curriculum, and technology. PTAs usually spearhead the effort. “It's a wonderful collaboration,” Pecora-Dusanenko said, adding that parents and educators are working together to support literature.

This year, Hegarty adopted a pirate theme to add to the fun: “Books ARRR Great!” School librarian Esta Jacobskind explained that the school's cafeteria and each classroom have a PARP display resembling a pirate's bounty, and students are encouraged to drop coins into the treasure chests for each book they read. Students are also encouraged to read at least fifteen minutes a night, and are keeping weekly reading logs of the books they have completed so far.

Additionally, Jacobskind and teachers work together to incorporate the books read to students at the library into their classroom curriculum. One of books read to all of the students this year was “The Last Dragon,” a story about a boy who spends his summer vacation with his aunt in Chinatown, and learns a great deal about his own culture along the way. As students were learning about the book at the library, they were also learning about Asian art. Art teacher Diane Horn taught students about calligraphy, scroll painting, and the illustration process. Students also learned how to make ceramic dragons, puppets, and traditional porcelain pottery.