Students share ‘Must-Reads’ with peers, the community

Students from Hewitt Elementary School presented their “Must-Reads” initiative at the Rockville Centre Board of Education’s June 1 meeting.

Fifth-grade teacher Christine Flanagan came up with the idea to encourage students to write down reviews and recommendations for the books they read, which their peers can consider when selecting their next literary adventure.

“A Must-Read book is something that really sticks with you,” Flanagan said. “It sparks your imagination and it could transform you. Maybe it changes the way you think about the world, or the way you think about someone else. Or maybe it changes the way you act toward someone else.”

The students shared with the meeting attendees some of their reviews for various books, as well as what they learned from the experience.

Fellow teacher Jessica Whelan saw the success of Flanagan’s initiative and decided to implement it in her classroom as well.

“When they see something interesting, when they see something that is exciting, that works in their class, they share it with each other,” Hewitt Principal Elizabeth Pryke said of her teachers. “That we got to highlight this at the Rockville Centre Public Library was all the better.”