Young authors, readers thrive in Springfield

Union Street Elementary School students are taking the literary world by storm. They are publishing their own books and demonstrating reading skills at “Author’s Night” and “Read-a-thon.”

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20120216/NEWS02/702169867

Published February 16, 2012 in the Rutland Herald
Young authors, readers thrive in Springfield

By Christian Avard
Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD — Union Street Elementary School students are taking the literary world by storm. They are publishing their own books and demonstrating reading skills at “Author’s Night” and “Read-a-thon.”

Fourth-grade teacher Krissy Chambers introduced “Author’s Night” to last year’s third-grade classes as a means to promote literacy. The class wrote stories with illustrations and published them through Studentreasure Publishing of Topeka, Kan., a company specializing in student publishing.

The activity was a success that teachers wanted to take part in. Now “Author’s Night” will feature works of the entire school and the students are looking forward to showing their works.

“This is a first school-wide event,” Chambers said. “The kids are really excited about their writing and the parents were excited about the product that came out of it. I was really excited so I opened it up to the whole school. Everybody jumped on board.”

Chambers thinks the students connect well with “Author’s Night” because it fosters hands-on learning.

Fifth-grader Cierra Howe, 11, published “Going to Camp,” a story about her grandfather’s cabin in Morgan. Howe spent a month writing the book and she enjoyed drawing the illustrations.

“It’s my favorite place to go in the summer,” Howe said. “I love swimming by the lake and I like playing in the woods and everything.”

Third-grader Paul Dana, 8, contributed to a class-published book on Native American history. The book is geared toward younger audiences and is presented in a fashion similar to an ABC’s book.

Dana chose the letters “E” and “Q,” wrote entries on the eagle and the quiver and described their significance. Howe and Dana said they hope their books will inspire also inspire younger students to publish their own.

“We liked drawing the pictures and typing out the stories on the computer. It was fun,” Dana said.

“Author’s Night” takes place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. today in the school gymnasium.

The Read-a-thon takes place 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Union Street Elementary School. Each classroom will have its own theme where readings take place. There will be a poetry slam room, a pig room, a scary story room, a wordless picture books room, a group story room, a quilting book room, a diversity book room and more.

At the event all of the students’ works will be on display.

“I think the overall goal is to build a love for reading and understanding of how important literacy is in our lives and hopefully to fulfil a love for writing too,” Chambers said. “Maybe we’ll have a few authors come out of the school in the long term.”

For more information call the Union Street Elementary School at 885-5155.