Students reading for the fun of it. Reading…just because.
That’s what Parkway Elementary School principal Krista Barton-Arnold wants, and she has a plan.
“The secret is that there are no strings attached to it. You don’t have to take a test, don’t have stop and ask questions along the way,” said Barton-Arnold. “We want to hook kids into the pure joy of reading.”
And, it’s working.
The principal announced her “Panther Picks” to students in November. It’s a list of 10 books she selected with library media specialist Beth Orr after they reviewed lists of book recommendations for young readers as well as doing their own research. They wanted to ensure it included a mix of genres and topics that would appeal to boys, girls and both.
Every fourth- and fifth-grade class received a set of the 10 books for the classroom. Third-grade teachers also have select books and are reading books aloud to students in class. Students in grades 4-5 are reading on their own.
Barton-Arnold delivers a live “commercial” for each book while students are visiting the library. She knows she needs to sell it to them, at least while it’s still new.
Staff members are reading the books as well and keeping track of Panther Picks readers so that certificates can be issued later in the year.
“The goal is to read it, return it and get another one,” explained Barton-Arnold. “We tell students, ‘Something on this 10-book list is the perfect book for you! Find that book.’”
The most popular book so far, Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes, is one that Barton-Arnold saw in the newspaper in review written by a student reader.
Now Parkway students are the book reviewers, discussing chapters and plots with each other in scheduled book talks that Barton-Arnold plans to host throughout the year.
“If they read the book they get to come to the book talk,” said Barton-Arnold. “If they read four, they get to come to an end-of-year party.”
Davion Mullen-Reynolds has already read eight Panther Picks and shows no signs of stopping.
“I’m reading Cicada Summer now,” said the fifth-grader of his ninth book. “I’m going to read all 10.”
There’s no doubt he will.
But first, he is more than happy to discuss his favorite book so far.
“Secret Coders is a book about a girl who is new to a school, and it’s a mysterious school,” Mullen-Reynolds explained. “And, she finds this little turtle. His name is Little Guy. But he’s a computer turtle, and she found him in a shed. She programs him to get past the mysterious school.”
He talks about other characters including a janitor, binary birds, and a few other students who are all coding.
“I liked it because I like coding and computers, so I thought it was real interesting. I highly recommend it,” said Mullen-Reynolds.
He added that he likes coding because “you get to do what you want. You get to have your own perspective of things and let yourself be in charge.”
The students were in charge at the Secret Coders book talk, discussing the book with Barton-Arnold and rotating to different stations to do coding activities from the book.
“There were a couple of students who are typically quiet and who don’t stand out who rocked the coding,” said Barton-Arnold. “They were teaching me!”
In addition to teaching their principal, some students shared the book and coding activities with their families.
“I talked about it with my dad, and we went on the [book’s] website. It was really fun to learn about coding,” said fourth-grader Ethan Fortuna.
Fortuna’s favorite characters were the birds who play a starring role. “They look ordinary, but they are not,” he said. Fortuna flips through the pages to show the part when the students used binary coding to have the birds open their eyes and help unlock a mysterious shed.
“There’s a new book coming out — Paths and Portals,” says Fortuna with wide eyes and a smile. “I went on the website to find out when. I told my dad when it comes out that I really hope to get it.”
‘You should have heard the kids cheer when I told them a new book was coming out,” said Barton-Arnold. “They were like, ‘Yes, a new book!’”
Music to her ears.
Also bringing a smile is Mullen-Reynolds’ reflection about reading. “It gives me perspective on being in other people’s shoes, and it helps me think a little more,” he said.
The next book talk is Secrets of the Cicada Summer. “It’s a mystery,” previewed Barton-Arnold.
More reading. More talking. More thinking. Just for fun.
Barton-Arnold and the Panther Picks readers can’t wait.