Event helps students build an appreciation for books
Published in the Jan. 7 – 23, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Photo by Marty Cheek
Jeff Perkins, SVP/Regional Manager at Heritage Bank of Commerce, reads to students at San Martin/Gwinn Environmental Science Academy.
The children of San Martin/Gwinn Environmental Science Academy enjoyed a Pajama Day “Read-a-thon” Dec. 19 morning where local residents stopped by and shared with them the joy of reading from their favorite books.
Wearing his PJs, Jonathan, a 7-year-old second grader in dual-immersion program teacher’s Sara Ortiz’s class, said that he likes books that make him laugh. His favorite books are about the comical fat cat “Garfield,” he said.
“It’s important to read so you can never forget the words that you learn in the books,” he said.
He also enjoys Dr. Seuss books such as “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” as well as books about dinosaurs, he said.
Morgan Hill Life Publisher Marty Cheek read to Jonathan’s class the famous Dr. Seuss book which takes readers on a tour of weird and wonderfully funny fish characters.
“Reading is such a vital skill to learn at an early age to have success in school and in life, so it’s important to help young people learn that reading is a lot of fun,” he said. “Dr. Seuss is a fun way for the kids to learn that reading can provide them with many hours of entertainment throughout their lives. It enhances their lives”
Shannon Rafat, a reading specialist at San Martin/Gwinn, said that having people — and “especially males” — visit classrooms and read to the learners helps children see role models share their time and demonstrate that reading is important.
“For so many of our families, the children don’t hear reading enough at home,” she said. “Any time I can have people read out loud to the children, it’s just building their vocabulary.”
Ortiz said the Read-a-thon helped the 31 students in her class build an appreciation for books that take them on reading adventures. The school often takes the students to the library to check out books and read on their own and become “life-long learners.” She also often encourages parents to read storybooks to their children.
“It’s important for parents to read to their children at home because it instills the love of reading in their children,” she said. “Sometimes, when you have the teacher say, ‘You have to read,’ they think of it as homework. But when they see their parents pick up a book and read, they realize this is important for life. It’s an important skill.”
