Ring Elementary School teacher, Wendy Rodgers helps kindergartner, Caleb Dykstra, pick out a free book as part of the school’s Pick a Reading Partner Program.

Throughout the month of March, Ring Elementary School PTA and teachers encouraged students to read through their Pick a Reading Partners (PARP) program. This year’s theme was “superheroes” and the motto was, “Every Superhero reader needs a sidekick! Will you be mine?”

PARP is a special program designed to encourage caregivers to share a daily reading experience with their children. Parents/caregivers were asked to read with their child at least 20 minutes a day or more, five times a week for four weeks. Families filled out and returned reading coupons that showed they read each week. In the hallway, a “superhero reader” wall was created that showed each grade level and classroom and how many minutes they have read. The school offered prizes and incentives during the four-week program in order to help promote good reading habits. Books were distributed to the students and class who reads the most minutes each week.

“I read The Odyssey and Lost Children of the Far Islands, which are chapter books,” said Ring Elementary School fourth grader Mathis Baehr. “I really like Greek mythology and books about that subject. I like reading about heroes because it gives me a model for how I should live my life.”

In addition to reading, the school offered fun, theme days each week including: “Team Up to Read,” wearing students’ favorite sports team clothing, “Sock It to Read,” a crazy sock day, “Spot a Good Book” wearing polka dots, and “Cozy Up With a Good Book” giving everyone the opportunity to wear pajamas to school.

Reading with your child is one of the most effective and pleasurable ways to help your child learn and be successful in school. Ring School teachers and PTA hopes that by offering the PARP activities, it will encourage a life-long love of reading.

“I love to read,” said Ring Elementary School fourth-grader Aislynn Johnson who has read a few chapter books as part of the PARP program. “Sometimes it’s educational and you learn something and sometimes it’s just a fun and enjoyable thing to do.”