Thursday, October 1, 2026
Valley Stream Union Free School District 13 hosted a districtwide literacy event featuring New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman. Held at Wheeler Avenue Elementary School, the event brought together sixth-grade students from across the district for a day focused on reading, writing and meaningful discussion.
Korman’s visit served as the highlight of the literacy initiative, offering students a unique opportunity to engage directly with an acclaimed author. The day began with student-led welcome remarks before Korman took the stage to share his journey as a writer. During his presentation, he discussed his writing process, career path and offered advice to young readers and aspiring writers in the audience.
Following the presentation, students broke into small, mixed-school discussion groups focused on Korman’s novel The Fort. These sessions allowed students to ask the author questions, share their reflections on the book and connect with peers from other schools in the district.
The event was the result of coordinated efforts among teachers, staff, and the district’s Unity Committee. In the weeks leading up to the event, teachers incorporated Korman’s books into classroom activities, including read-alouds and writing assignments. Students created written and illustrated responses to The Fort, which were displayed throughout the auditorium on the day of the event.
The district’s Unity Committee also played a key role, organizing discussion groups that included students from multiple schools. This effort was designed to encourage relationship-building and collaboration ahead of the students’ transition to the Valley Stream Central High School District.
The event reflected the district’s ongoing commitment to fostering a love of literacy, encouraging creativity, and building connections among its students through shared learning experiences.
