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Dr. Seuss 'on the loose' at Memorial School
(by Kathryn A. Burger - March 19, 2008)
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Staff photo by Kathryn A. Burger
First-graders brought in their favorite Dr. Seuss book for Read Across America Day at
Memorial
School in Montvale.
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The first-graders watched through the doorway of their classrooom, waiting for their fourth-grade reading buddies to arrive. They get together once a week, but this visit was going to be extra special.
The first-graders all wore “Cat in the Hat” hats and had brought their favorite Dr. Seuss book to school that day. It was “Read Across America Day” and a celebration of Theodor Seuss (his real middle name) Geisel, better know as Dr. Seuss, held on the 104th anniversary of his birth.
All the books the students had brought in were arrayed on a table in their classroom. Not surprisingly, more than one copy of a few of the most familiar classics such as “Hop on Pop,” “The Foot Book,” and of course, “The Cat in the Hat” were displayed, as well as “The Tooth Book,” “Dr. Seuss’s ABC Book,” and “There’s a Wocket in my Pocket!”
When the fourth-graders arrived, the buddy pairs formed quickly and began the day’s writing activity, before getting down to reading together. First grade teacher Maria Palamara said that during the weekly get-togethers, the students begin with a writing activity. “The fourth-graders help the younger ones and they all look forward to the weekly visits.”
Some pairs settled down at desks while others found a spot on the carpet near the classroom library. One pair found a quiet corner behind an easel. There was a pleasant hum of activity in the room. Palamara said, “We have a casual but controlled atmosphere,” and that described it perfectly.
The writing assignment for this special day had the buddy pairs writing verses based on another Dr. Seuss classic, “Green Eggs and Ham.” Marc Hernandez and his fourth-grade buddy Daniel Ginzberg wrote: “I do not like green beans. I would not eat them skydiving. I would not eat them skiing. I would not eat them near a rock. I would not eat them on a dock.”
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This drawing, and a chalkboard with a familiar Dr. Seuss adage, were among the decorations
Memorial
School displayed on Read Across America Day.
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Rachel Morgan and her fourth-grade buddy Melanie Meisner wrote: “I do not like chocolate. I would not eat it on whipped cream. I would not eat it in a dream.”
As each pair finished writing, they went to the table where the books were displayed, picked one, and then settled back into their spots. Some first-graders read to their buddies, and fourth-graders read to theirs. Deanna Hoffman and her buddy Alyssa Siegel were sitting on the floor near the class library and were so engrossed in their book that they didn’t even look up as a visitor got down on the floor to take their picture.
The Reading Buddies program at
Memorial
School is in its seventh year and looking around the classroom it was easy to see why this popular activity continues year after year. Palamara said the program is more than just writing and reading. “The fourth-graders are mentors to the younger students; they are role models,” and the time spent together benefits them all.
There are six classes of first-graders and four classes of fourth-graders at
Memorial
School . All participate in the Reading Buddies Program that is coordinated by the grade level teachers.
Kathryn A. Burger's e-mail address is burger@northjersey.com.
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