Reading Takes Western Adventure At Palermo Elementary

by Submitted article | September 28, 2017 7:14 am

PALERMO – Palermo Elementary School students are committed to saddle up and read throughout the 2017-18 school year.

To begin the initiative, the students were treated to an interactive “Saddle Up and Read” magic show which promoted the benefits of reading and libraries.

Students were also thrilled to join leaders from Painting with a Twist, who guided students in kindergarten through second grade as they painted a desert scene.

Third and fourth graders painted a horse.

Additional activities that were a part of the week-long kick-off celebration included dressing up as cowboys and cowgirls, learning about how to care for horses from Mary Beth Horn, Mexico Academy and Central School District Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, and they dropped everything and read new books before they were treated to the traditional campfire snack of s’mores.

As part of the Saddle Up and Read pledge, students will strive to read for at least five out of seven days per week.

Students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade will learn to set their own goals and track their progress.

To help keep the momentum of Saddle Up and Read going, Scorzelli created a Western-themed bulletin board outside of the cafeteria where progress will be tracked for each classroom that meets or exceeds a goal of having 90 percent of the class population complete that weekly reading goal.

Several teachers also created Saddle Up and Read bulletin boards throughout the school halls as a fun, visual way to encourage students to read.

Librarian Tiffany Carpenter said each student also receives 45 minutes of library time every week.

Principal Margaret Scorzelli said the whole initiative will help the school achieve its building-wide goal of having 100 percent of the student population increase its reading levels.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/community/reading-takes-western-adventure-at-palermo-elementary/

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