A creepy, crawly thanks

Christine Carrillo

They read, read and read some more, and as a reward, they got

exclusive visitation rights with prehistoric pets such as snakes,

lizards, frogs and scorpions.

Unlike some of their fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade classmates,

their reward lasted a full day.

They got to attend all three “Reading Frenzy” events.

As a reward for the students’ achievements through the Accelerated

Reader program, Rea Elementary School in Costa Mesa decided to hold a

progressive party to recognize them for their reading efforts.

The program “is so intrinsically motivating for the kids,” said

Kurt Suhr, assistant principal at Rea. “Reading is one of the

greatest things you can give a kid, and [this program] gives them

ownership of their reading.”

Those students who reached one of their three goals during the

year got to attend a morning assembly, while those students who

achieved two of their three goals got to stay and participate in some

afternoon activities.

The students who reached all of three of their goals, about 30

students altogether, got spend the whole day reveling in their

reading rewards, which included a visit from some cold-blooded

friends.

The students appreciated the day of recognition.

“My parents taught me to read more so I have more knowledge and

will get a better career,” said 11-year-old Marcos Hernandez, a

fifth-grader who reached all three of his reading goals. “I think

[this party] is good because every reader gets to be recognized for

all their hard work.”

Rea implemented the program four years ago, and the effect it has

had on the school and its students has impressed school officials.

“We had the Accelerated Reader program for four years, and it

works amazingly well,” said Jenny Burks, the school’s renaissance

facilitator in charge of the accelerated programs. “Kids are excited

to read and they’re reading all the time. It’s incredible to see them

growing.”

With library circulation jumping from about 350 books per day to

more than 750 books per day, school administrators have seen a strong

increase in the reading skills of the nearly 800 students who attend

the school.

After challenging the students throughout the year, rewarding them

for their efforts seemed like the best way to end the year. The last

day of school was Friday.

“Meeting all of your goals is not an easy thing to do,” Suhr said.

“The goals are very challenging ... so it’s great to recognize [the

students] for achieving them. This is a great way to end the year.”

* IN THE CLASSROOM is a weekly feature in which Daily Pilot

education writer Christine Carrillo visits a campus in the

Newport-Mesa area and writes about her experience.