Stomp, Chomp and Read! Dinosaur theme helps Clinton Elementary School celebrate March is Reading Month

Clinton Elementary School kindergarteners who won a pizza lunch with the principal display their winning certificates as part of the elementary school’s March is Reading Month activities and celebrations.

By BRAD HEINEMAN

Clinton Local

Daily themed activities, a “March Madness”-style book competition and a bevy of prizes were among the ways students, staff and teachers celebrated March is Reading Month across Clinton Elementary School.

Schools and libraries generally lead the way when it comes to March is Reading Month celebrations. Nationally, these institutions promote daily reading habits throughout the third month of the year to boost brain connectivity, reduce stress and improve vocabulary for all ages.

The month of March is selected for this focus on reading because of it being recognized as National Reading Month — a dedicated time to foster a love of reading, improve literacy skills and honor children’s literary author Dr. Seuss’s March 2 birthday.

Clinton Elementary’s theme for March is Reading Month was “Dinosaurs: Stomp, Chomp and Read!”

“March is Reading Month at the elementary level fosters a love of reading by creating engaging, school-wide opportunities that motivate students to explore books and build lifelong literacy habits,” said district librarian for Clinton Community Schools, Monica VanTuyle. “It encourages a positive reading culture among students, staff and families.”

According to an email from Courtney Aymen, at-risk coordinator for Clinton Elementary School, activities throughout March included an activity calendar, “Battle of the Books,” a reading log raffle and an assembly day held at the end of the month — March 31 — to congratulate students and teachers for their hard work and dedication to reading.

Here’s a little bit more about what went into each of the March is Reading Month activities at Clinton Elementary School:

• Activity calendar: Daily themes and activities related to reading (i.e.: Flashlight Reading Day, read with a flashlight; Bookmark Day, make your own bookmark; and Joke Day, read a joke book, etc.).

• Battle of the Books: Using a “March Madness”-style book competition, the elementary school started with 16 picture books. Every day students would listen to two books and vote for which book they liked the most. The book with the most votes for each round would move onto the next round until there was one winner. The winning book was “Don’t Trust Fish” by Neil Sharpson, which bested “Dog vs. Strawberry” by Nelly Buchet in the finale round.

• Reading log raffle: Students has the opportunity to earn onedraffle ticket for each day they read at home, filled out their reading log and had it signed by an adult. Bonus tickets could also be earned by visiting the Clinton Township Public Library during spring break. Prizes — raffle prizes, a dinosaur-themed prize box, pizza lunch with the principal, pick a free book or poster, slime a teacher and Reading to Rex the six-feet inflatable dinosaur — were drawn during the end-of-the-month assembly.

• Assembly Day: At the end of the month, CES had an assembly to congratulate students and teachers for their hard work and dedication to reading throughout the month of March.

“Raffles prizes were drawn, 188 total, and six teachers were slimed: Karen Tice (kindergarten), Olivia Linzell (first grade), Kate Neigebauer (second grade), Victoria Auten (third grade), Joseph Gossett (fourth grade) and Kathryn Fowler (fifth grade),” Aymen said.

Clinton Upper Elementary’s fourth and fifth grade students were able to conclude March is Reading Month by attending a special presentation March 30 over at Clinton Middle School when bestselling author Dion Leonard and his dog, Gobi, paid the district a visit to share their inspiring story of perseverance, friendship and adventure.

“Students were captivated by their journey and left feeling motivated to chase their own dreams — no matter how big,” Clinton Community Schools said.

To read The Local’s coverage of Leonard’s “Finding Gobi” presentation, check out the Thursday, April 2 edition of The Clinton Local, which can be accessed in print or digitally by visiting tecumsehherald.com, and clicking on the “Read Full Online Edition” tab at the top of the webpage.