Lake View celebrates Read Across America Week

Posted

February 27 to March 3 was National Read Across America Week, and Lake View Primary recognized it by having dozens of different guests visit the school and read to the students in their classrooms. 

The week’s events were organized by Lauren Viers, Lake View’s reading specialist, who put in a lot of extra hours booking guest readers and matching them with classrooms.

“Learning to read is important because it unlocks a host of opportunities for our students,” Viers said. “Without the ability to read, basic tasks like grocery shopping, driving and applying for jobs would be very difficult. We love hosting community members during Read Across America Week in an effort to instill a love of reading in our students and to show them that they can pursue any career once they gain the ability to read.”

The guest readers included members of the Page Public Library, City of Page, Page Fire Department, Glen Canyon Dam, Coconino Community College, Aramark, National Park Service, Lake Powell CrossFit, Native Strength and Rezilience Project, Lake View Parents and PUSD staff and board members.

One of the volunteer readers was Caityln Andersen, who read to her daughter Bryn’s first-grade class. She was more than happy to help.

“Reading is such an important skill to have for a child,” she said. “It expands a child’s vocabulary and their imagination.”

Caitlyn and her husband Spencer require their two oldest children, Bryn and Eden, aged 6 and 7, to read 20 minutes a day. Caitlyn usually has her daughters read to her. During story time, they also have their two other kids, who aren’t yet old enough to read themselves, join in.

“It shows them that reading is important and it gets their verbal and language started,” Caitlyn said. 

Reading and story time is something the Anderson family does together. Caitlyn said it greatly boosts their family’s bonding and is a part of the day they look forward to.

The first two days of Read Across America Week overlapped with the last two days of Black History Month, which was also recognized in PUSD schools. Page Middle School Principal Alyssa Covington found it the perfect opportunity to read books about African American culture to the Lake View students. Covington was Lake View’s assistant principal last year, and the students were happy to see her again.

Through stories, children are able to visit countries, cities and villages they wouldn’t otherwise be able to, and experience cultures, traditions and ways of living different than their own, which can greatly increase their empathy and understanding of the wider world, said Lake View Primary Principal Brian Henderson.

“Reading gives kids the power of possibility and introduces them to everything that could be,” he said.