By Theresa Gardner
The love of Reading has inspired a young Richardson Elementary student to create a “secret reading club.”
E.S. Richardson Elementary fifth grader Presley Wood approached her principal Michelle Finley about an idea she had for a reading club that would allow her and fellow students to join to read and discuss other books they had read.
“Presley loves to read and be with her friends, “ Lucia Wood, Presley’s mother said. “So she told me she wanted to start a reading club at school.”
Wood said her daughter, who is an honors student and recently named Richardson Student of the Year, told her she had heard of a club that was somewhat of a secret organization on campus where students could meet, discuss books they are reading and read together.
“She really liked how “Harry Potter” style music would play over the intercom and the students would get up and walk out of class to a meeting area,” Wood said. “She decided to meet with her principal, Mrs. Finley, to share with her the idea for this new club.“ Wood went on to say that Finley told her to write up a description of the club and share it with her fifth-grade teachers.
“Mrs. Carita Elkins, our ELA teacher, loved the idea and will be our teacher sponsor for our club,” Presley said with a smile. “We wrote a Donorschoose grant for floor cushions to be used during the meeting time, and it is already halfway funded!”
Presley said the reading club will be called the “Roadrunner Readers,” and will meet once every two weeks to discuss the books they are currently reading or books that they especially loved.
“Presley loves being involved,” Wood said. “Once she was finally able to participate in school activities, Covid occurred and there were no school activities for the students. Now things are starting to get a little more back to normal and she is excited about this.”
Presley explained that she and Elkins were thinking that members of the reading club should be required to have a minimum of 30 AR points, 80 percent or more in Dojo and a recommendation by their ELA teacher.
“They can’t have any bad referrals either,” Presley said. “Being in the club will not only help with getting students to read but also with them making good choices when it comes to discipline, so they can participate.”
Presley and the other students are asking for help in purchasing the remainder of the portable seat cushions they will be using at their meetings.
Anyone wishing to help these students meet their goal of purchasing their cushions can call the school at 318-377-2213 or visit donorschoose.org.
To report an issue or typo with this article – CLICK HERE
