Akron Kick Starts Summer Reading ProgramAKRON - As summer approaches and the number of school days dwindle, teachers and staff at Akron Elementary School don't want students to forget to keep on reading.
Thursday night, Akron had its Kickoff to Summer Reading program with the theme of "Race Into Summer Reading." The event was paid for through Title I Parent Involvement Funds, and capped off with the drama club's production of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."Literacy coach Kristen Horrell and Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. Director of Curriculum Angie Miller organized the kickoff.
Horrell said they put together booths for parents of what they can do over the summer with their children to keep them learning. Akron School staff manned most of the booths, and local libraries were invited to display what they had to offer students over the summer.
The most popular booth of the night, Horrell said, was the TumbleBookLibrary booth. Kids can get on the TumbleBookLibrary Web site and find an online collection of animated, talking picture books which teach young children the joys of reading. To find a link to that Web site, visit Akron Elementary's Web site at http://akron.tvsc.k12.in.us Click on the blue TumbleBooks logo at the bottom of the page.
Parents also were signing up their children for summer school at the kickoff.
Previously, Akron and Mentone elementaries combined their efforts for the kickoff. This year, to make it more local, each school did it alone. Horrell said parents also know the teachers at the booths better that way.
Planning for the kickoff took about three weeks. Every grade level was represented.
"I'm pretty happy with the turnout," Horrell said.
Every kid got a free book. There were door prizes and information for the parents.
At 7:20 p.m., Akron Elementary's drama club presented their play, directed by Erin Workman.
Workman said students in third through fifth grade were involved. They had been rehearsing it since February, and about 35 students were involved.
She said putting on the play gets the students reading and performing. The drama club has put on a play the last three years, but "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" was their biggest.
"The kids love it. They really love it. It's a great experience as they get into middle school and high school and get into theater," Workman said.
