April

CELEBRATING

APRIL 2018 CEA ADVISOR 15

Bus Tour made its last stop at Plainfield Memorial School, where— in spite of wet and windy weather— eight fourth-grade classes were treated to guest readers, bookmark crafts, a new book of their choice to take home, and of course, time on board the magical blue bus. To add to the cozy feeling, it was pajama day, and both teachers and students—in fuzzy slippers and onesies—took full advantage. “There is so much excitement among students this morning about the Reading Bus,” said Plainfield Education Association President Janet Piezzo. “It brings literature right into their environment in a way that makes it their own and makes it fun. Some of our children have seen the blue bus rolling through town, and now they get to say they’ve been on it.” The morning’s activities kicked off with reading specialist Jackie Ibbitson reading aloud Patricia Polacco’s picture book Thank You, Mr. Falker , based on the author’s own struggles as a young reader and her journey into literacy, thanks to intensive help, understanding, and encouragement from a teacher who recognized both her challenges and her gifts. “Many times when you read books, you relate to them,” Ibbitson told the PJ-and-slipper-clad fourth- graders gathered on the bus. “They touch your heart.” Ibbitson revealed that she, too, had struggled with a learning disability as a child and related to the teasing and embarrassment Polacco’s character felt. For the love of reading Teacher Jeni Czekala, whose class was first to board the bus on its final stop, said, “It’s so nice to see kids have a moment to enjoy literature and carry out that love of reading. We get to give them time to experience the joy of a good story, to empathize with its characters, and to see something of their own lives or someone else’s in

Teachers get into character at Mary R. Fischer Elementary School in Thompson.

CEA Treasurer and CEF board member Tom Nicholas joins Killingly Memorial students outside the Reading Bus.

the tales they read and hear.” In the classroom, Czekala explained, “We are so data-driven and pressed for time that to able to stop, sit, listen, and enjoy a story is refreshing.” “Children sometimes lose their love of reading because of testing and other pressures at school,” Ibbitson agreed. “I want to bring back the idea of reading just for joy.” Other guest readers on the weeklong bus tour included teachers, library media specialists, mayors, school administrators, legislators, and other local luminaries. The brainchild of Plainfield Superintendent Kenneth DiPietro, the mobile library that doubled as CEF’s Reading Bus is the realization of a multi-year effort, including generous donations from local businesses. “Knowing CEF’s support for literacy, using the bus to bring reading to Connecticut’s northeastern towns was a perfect match,” DiPietro said. “The bright blue bus, the loudspeaker song ‘Gotta Keep Reading,’ and hours of storytelling on board generate the same kind of excitement you see when the ice cream trucks rolls through the neighborhood. In every community we heard the same comments: that students would love to ride that bus to school every day!”

Classmates in Jeni Czekala’s class at Plainfield Memorial School show off the books they chose to bring home.

East Haddam Students Celebrate Reading with “Fancy Nancy” Author Visit From bow ties to frilly dresses, students at East Haddam

like you.” Prior to the author visit, special guests read books aloud in many classrooms. CEA Attorney Melanie Kolek read Robert McCloskey‘s One Morning in Maine to Caron’s second- graders. She figured they could identify with the main character, Sal, who loses a tooth. “Reading is the essential building block of a great education in our great nation,” Kolek said. “It’s just so wonderful to see the expressions on children’s faces when you’re reading to them and they escape into this other world that the author brings them into.” To close out Read Across America Day, teachers planned a reading buddy afternoon, where children had a chance to enjoy books together with students from other grade levels. “They absolutely love reading to others,” said third-grade teacher Lisa Cahill. “We have kids who get together with students from other grade levels and read Dr. Seuss books to each other. They love

Elementary School donned their fanciest attire this Read Across America Day to welcome a very special guest, Fancy Nancy author Jane O’Connor. O’Connor read her latest book, Oodles of Kittens , to students, answered their questions, and showed them how to walk “fancy” while balancing a banana on their heads. “All of our students were encouraged to dress fancy today to welcome our author,” said library media specialist Lisa Chlebowski, who organized the visit to the K-3 school. “They’re super excited to find out what it’s like to be a writer.” “To have an author come in and talk about her life is so important and so exciting for the children,” said second-grade teacher Maryann Caron. Fellow second-grade teacher Celina Nelan added, “It’s very important for the students to meet an author so that they can see that writing and reading are important.” Students had many questions for O’Connor, including, “Where do you get the great ideas for your books?” O’Connor told the students, “Sometimes an idea, like the idea for the first Fancy Nancy book, just flies into my head, and I don’t even know where it comes from. Sometimes I get ideas from things that happened to me when I was your age.

Pre-Service Teachers Read Fish Tales For the second year in a row, members of CEA’s Student Program (CEA-SP) hosted a storytime for young visitors at Mystic Aquarium as part of a Read Across America initiative. Students in teacher preparation programs at UConn, Quinnipiac, and Eastern, Southern, and Central Connecticut State Universities read from a selection of children’s stories and organized book-themed crafts and activities. CEA-SP is for students enrolled in Connecticut

colleges and universities who are planning to pursue careers in education upon graduation. CEA-SP offers opportunities in professional development, community outreach, leadership, and networking for future teachers all over the state. These opportunities are meant to support and supplement future teachers’ preparation and facilitate their entry into the teaching profession, as well as expose them to a variety of educational environments and issues.

showing off their reading skills.”

Sometimes I get ideas from things that happened to my two sons when they were kids. And sometimes I get ideas from coming to schools just like yours and talking to kids just