Seaford Manor student focus on reading

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There was lots of action packed into Seaford Manor Elementary School’s 17-day Pick a Reading Partner program, coordinated by the PTA. This year’s theme was “Mindful Mario Kart: Race to Read,” inspired by the popular Nintendo game.

This year’s PARP program also connected to the 16 Habits of Mind, with one habit explored each day before a grand finale on Feb. 12. In a handout for students and teachers, there were several book suggestions relating to each day’s Habit of Mind.

First-grade teacher Angelina Lee read her students “Iggy Peck, Architect,” on the day the school celebrated Habit No. 11 – Creating, Imagining and Innovating. Students thought up ideas for new inventions and after drawing and writing about their proposed creations, they used materials such as blocks and Legos to bring their ideas to life.

Students throughout the school kept PARP journals in which they responded to writing and drawing prompts related to the Habits of Mind. For Habit No. 1 —Persisting — they wrote about a time in which they had to overcome an obstacle, and for Habit No. 13 — Taking Responsible Risks — they reflected on a time they tried something new.

At home, students were encouraged to read at least 15 minutes a day with a partner, and there were lots of prizes as incentive to read even more. They could scan a QR code in the PARP handout to log their reading time and earn coins, just like in Mario Kart. Individual prizes for achieving certain goals included gifts cards to Scholastic and Fun Stuff Toys, a Kindle Fire, autographed books and a Mario Doodle Kit, and class prizes featured extra recess time, movie with the principal and a pizza party.

There were also several virtual events including class parent read-alouds, community guest readers, a book fair and visits from children’s authors Nick Bruel and Peter Reynolds.

Provided by the Seaford School District. Compiled by Brian Stieglitz.