You have read about it, heard about, and talked about it … READING is the cornerstone of education. With that being said, how do you inspire the youths of today to read?
Prairie View Middle School of Tinley Park, IL may have found a solution. Combining the positive results of supportive teamwork and outrageously fun activities, Prairie View Middle School’s all-school book read ended in a chaos of flying food. The end result was an overwhelmingly positive connection between middle school students and reading.
Each year Prairie View Middle School picks one book in which the entire school participates in reading together. (A free copy of the book is given to each student courtesy of the PTO). Not only are the students asked to read the book at home, but time is also allotted within each school day for the students to read the book together as a group - encouraging a sense of community.
This year's chosen book was "Trash" by Andy Mulligan. An inspiring story about a dumpsite boy in India, named Raphael. Raphael spends his days digging through trash, until one day he discovers something that changes everything.
In the spirit of "Trash", newspaper was strewn throughout the school disguised as trash. Principal Ms. Roth was surprised 'trashed' in her office, and many other activities took place supporting the play on words. A three-hour evening event Trash-In required an entrance fee of reading up to page 150, along with donating a pair of slightly used shoes for "Share Your Soles." To sum it up, Prairie View Middle School spent the month of March talking "Trash."
However, the favorite event was the grand finale assembly on Friday April 5, 2013. The Master of Ceremonies, eighth grade teacher Mr. Gary Kueltzo, made sure the students were not going to forget their efforts any time soon.
Prizes were awarded to students who had participated in various contests throughout the month and many aspects of the month's "Trash" event were revisited during the assembly, but nothing will be as memorable as the ending food fight. Students were called upon to come down and adorn themselves with protective coverings. Staff filled the tables with spaghetti, donuts, rolls, and Mac N' Cheese. When everyone was in position within the plastic makeshift walls, the chaos of flying food ensued. Hysterical laughing could be heard throughout the hallways and for one school on a sunny spring day, the students were glad they had participated in the reading of a book.Copyright © 2015, Chicago Tribune