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Principal turns new page for St. Rita readers
(by Sue Hoffman - February 11, 2009)
Principal turns new page for St. Rita readers
By SUE HOFFMAN
Maggie Schiffer, a fourth-grader at St. Rita School in Solon, just loves to read. So the new principal's book club at her school was the perfect outlet for her interests.
"I like to read a lot, and I like to earn accelerated-reading points," she said, referring to the software program which monitors reading progress. Maggie is one of about 10 students in fourth and fifth grades that look forward to their quarterly book discussions with Principal Mary Petelin.
"I didn't like reading at first," fourth-grader Taylor Repchick said, "but I love reading now." The book club has helped make the difference, she said.
Maggie, Taylor and the others in the book club smiled as they discussed their favorite authors, who include Beverly Cleary, Mary Pope Osborne, J.K. Rowling and "Lemony Snicket" (Daniel Handler). The students find opportunities to read just about everywhere: on the school bus, during family auto trips, on airplanes and at home.
Fifth-grader Jessica Peffer said she might decide to read for a half hour, and, before she knows it, an hour goes by. "Time goes by so fast," she said.
The students pointed out the benefits of the book club. "I never heard of 'The Whipping Boy' before," fifth-grader John Pickett said of the book by Sid Fleischman, which they discussed in the fall. "I really liked it."
So did Jessica, she said. "I learned that there were whipping boys during medieval times."
"I would have never read 'The Christmas Present,' said fifth-grader Megan Misencik, who hadn't heard of the book before it was chosen for the club's December meeting. She's glad she did, she said. "And it's nice to hear others' opinions."
Mrs. Petelin said she started three book discussion groups at the beginning of the school year. In addition to the group for fourth- and fifth-graders, there is a group for second and third grades and one for sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
"I was thinking of a meaningful way to interact with the students and to get to know the students personally," she said. Time is available during the "X period" for electives such as art, drama, remedial help and enrichment. The book club meetings, offering lively discussion and light refreshments, have been added to the list.
Each quarter, Mrs. Petelin displays a poster with the time, date and book for the next book club meeting, as well as information on where students can obtain the book. She meets with the fourth- and fifth-graders, who form the largest group, in the library, and goes to the primary building's cafeteria to meet with the youngest group.
The sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders meet Mrs. Petelin in her office. "It's neat for them to come to the principal's office to talk about a book," she quipped, as opposed to a disciplinary issue.
Their most recent selection was the "Life of Pi," by Yann Martel.
"I was an English major, and I am an avid reader," said the principal. "I read the "Life of Pi" and thought it was a great book for the older students." She said the book was challenging for them but also very interesting.
Fourth- and fifth-grade book club members said they discuss many aspects of a book, including plot, characters, action and lessons learned. They enjoy sharing ideas about a book, such as the unlikely friendship of the two boys in "The Whipping Boy" and the gift of opportunity in "The Christmas Present."
Their next selection is "Trouble Don't Last," a book about the Underground Railroad by award-winning author Shelley Pearsall.
"Shelley Pearsall is a local author who is coming to our school during Right to Read Week, on March 2," Mrs. Petelin said. The book ties in with their social-studies units, she said.
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