Roanoke Students "Ride the Reading Wave" with Keri Stromski

(July 2007) Riverhead, NY --
POLISH TOWN PAVILION

Riverhead resident Keri Stromski initiated a summer reading program for the Roanoke students who wanted to participate. Ms. Stromski, who lives in Jamesport, has been a first grade teacher at Roanoke for 9 years. She wants to keep kids reading over the summer and, as a resident of Riverhead, she devised this program entitled "Ride the Reading Wave" to keep the Roanoke kids reading.

At the end of June, Ms. Stromski gave the 110 students, who signed up, a book bag, a special book tag necklace, and some books to get them started. The books were paid for by area residents and businesses.

In July the students and their families came together to enjoy a staged version of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by a trio of teachers and two students, a reading and greeting by Roanoke Avenue Principal Debra Rodgers and an interpretive reading of Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Keri Stromski and her daughter.

In addition to the entertainment, Ms. Stromski gave each family a brand new DVD by Brady Rymer, a popular singer of children's music. She also gave out a series of small toys for good listening, and conducted a drawing for prizes from a very popular raffle, which featured, among other items, kites, a bug vacuum, a telescope, an ice cream maker, water toys, and a family four pack of tickets to Splish Splash. The students received a raffle ticket for each book they read to put into a bag correlating to the prize they wanted to win. Even the parents and guardians who attended had a chance to win a gift certificate.

The most important part of the program, however, was that Ms. Stromski's efforts seem to be working. According to an informal interview with the parents and children who attended, the students are reading more this summer as a result of their participation in the program.

"I've read 18 chapter books so far this summer," stated a third grader in the program.

"I've read 12 books," echoed her little brother. "

They have been reading more," agreed their mother.

According to Ms. Stromski, "One important aspect of the program is that the books are leveled according to reading levels; so, as one level gets easier, the students are challenged to move up to the next level. They're not just picking books at random in this aspect of the program."

The rewards system also seemed to be a hit with the kids. “I had my eye on this telescope,” shared one little boy, who won the telescope, “but I also wanted to win those tickets to Splish Splash.”

“Look what I won,” shared another raffle winner, “an ice cream maker.” He and his sisters have also been exploring their artistic talents over the summer at an art camp sponsored by the East End Arts Council.

On Wednesday, August 22, 6:30-7:30 PM the students in the program came to the POLISH TOWN Pavilion, for a second "Twilight Summer Book Swap" to exchange books with other students in the program and to win more prizes for their reading efforts.

"If we can keep our students reading over the summer, it is very likely that they will increase their reading skill level. If they don't keep reading, there is likely to be some skill loss over the summer," states Ms. Stromski. (See Scholastic's Bridging the Summer Reading Gap.) "I didn't expect this amazing number of students to sign up, but I'm thrilled. I worked very hard to 'level' the books, so the students could start right in reading at their skill level. I would like people to understand that this is an outside program sponsored by the community, but I want to thank the school district for their support and members of the Roanoke faculty and staff for their help."

Related Links: July 2007 edition of The Stromski Star

HAVE A SAFE AND HEALTHY SUMMER!
KEEP READING!

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