MANSFIELD — Sherman Elementary School celebrated “Right to Read Week” with a variety of exciting, engaging activities.
The goal was to help students grow their love of reading.
Robin Burkhardt, Sherman Elementary’s librarian, said that Dr. Suess Week started the excitement, beginning with activities back in March.
Burkhardt was eager to share her joy for this week’s events because she enjoys seeing the excitement in the students.
“Making a book come alive gets me excited and doing anything I can to share that with a child is so essential,” Burkhardt said. “They strive for attention and I love to be able to give them what I can.
“Books show them many opportunities that some would have never been able to have.”
Some activities included reading with buddies from older classes, creating stories about their building mascot, “Sherman the Dog,” and making book covers inspired by their favorite books.
Throughout the week, students could bring their favorite book to school, their favorite stuffed animal to read with, wear a hat with their favorite slogan, and share a book with their family.
On Thursday evening they hosted a building-wide art, literacy, and math event for the families.
“First- and second-grade students had a book cover contest, submitting their favorite book to be judged,” Burkhardt said. “They will be on display during this week.”
Burkhardt will be retiring after this year. The smiles on the children’s faces showed this event is something she will truly miss.
Thursday, April 10, students received a visit from many different community members. The Mayor and Miss Mansfield were two that joined Sherman students for their “Rocking Chair Read A Thon.”
This activity allows them to enjoy a different reader from the community every half hour.
The community members include past school teachers, librarians, secretaries, 179th Guardsmen, Miss Mansfield, and Mansfield mayor Jodie Perry.
“We had to extend the readers to Friday to fit everyone in,” Burkhardt said. “We are so blessed to have great support and such a great teaching staff to adjust their schedules for this.”
All of the students were able to wear a hat they had created for the “Rocking Chair Read-A-Thon.” Some hats revealed what careers the kids would like to have as adults. Doctors, military member, and nurses were just a few occupations the students chose.
Before reading, Grace Riegel (Miss Mansfield) showed two types of hats to the children. These included her military hat and her Miss Mansfield crown.
The children were eager to ask questions about Riegel’s job and her position in the military.
The stories Riegel chose to share with the students were, “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie” and “If You Give A Pig A Pancake.”
Many students were familiar with these books, noting they had read some of them in their classes this past week.
Students were very interested in knowing what toppings Riegel liked on her pancakes. Chocolate syrup was a unanimous vote for all the students.
Along with the guest readers, one student was able to share a poem they had written for the event. The students also performed a song for one of their guest readers, about their enthusiasm for reading.