Madison Students, Parents Spend 'An Evening With A Good Book'
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Madison Elementary School parents and their students read their favorite books Tuesday night by flashlight as part of the school's "An Evening With A Good Book."
More than 100 parents and their kindergarten through second-grade students were expected. Thursday night, the second "Evening With A Good Book" will be held at the school for fourth- through sixth-graders, with about 80 people expected.Also as part of the evening activities, comedian, juggler, magician and ventriloquist Mike Hemmelgarn from Dayton, Ohio, provided the entertainment while encouraging students to read, read and read some more.
"We're just really trying to promote the importance of reading," said co-coordinator Gail Rathbun, Title I Reading teacher. She said they want students to not see reading as just a homework assignment, but something they can enjoy their entire lives. Speech pathologist Carmen Elliot is the other coordinator for the first-year event at Madison.
Hemmelgran performs his multi-faceted act for schools, corporate events, festivals and other events. To encourage students to read, he said he has a couple of specific magic tricks geared toward the idea that reading is fun, makes you smarter and can help make your dreams come true. He said he's been doing his show for 12 years, but "I've had a lifelong interest."
Rathbun said the two evenings were funded by Partners in Education Lake City Bank, book fair money and the PTO.
For more information on Hemmelgarn, visit online at www.mikehemmelgarn.com
