Wahoo Elementary attends 2019 Plum Creek Children's Literacy Festival
K/1/2 students meet famous children's authors/illustrators at annual event organized by Concordia University
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Nobody needs to be convinced of the importance of learning how to read in order to lead a productive life, but effective educators do their very best to take that one step further: producing students who want to read. As the very wise Mark Twain once said, “those who do not read have no advantage over those who cannot read.”
Instilling a passion for reading in our children is every bit as important as teaching the skills of literacy, and beyond our teachers, few are able to share that passion as effectively as the many talented authors across the country who have gifted us with their stories and illustrations.
One Nebraska university sponsors a yearly event that gives students the opportunities to experience this passion first-hand.
On the morning of Friday, Sept. 20, all Wahoo Elementary kindergartners, first, and second graders boarded buses to attend the 2019 Plum Creek Children’s Literacy Festival, a yearly event sponsored by, and held on the campus of, Concordia University in Seward, NE.
The Plum Creek Festival, which started back in 1996, “seeks to encourage a love of reading, writing, and books by bringing world-renowned authors and illustrators to Nebraska.” (Source: www.cune.edu)
All students enjoyed two sessions with two different authors/illustrators, who shared their life stories and their passion for writing and reading. Kindergarten students attended sessions featuring Lori Richmond and Wendell/Florence Minor. First graders enjoyed Alan Katz and Lori Richmond, and second graders attended the sessions of Matt Tavares and Alan Katz.
from left: nationally-renowned children's authors/illustraros Matt Tavares and Wendell/Florence Minor.
“The Literacy Festival was an incredible experience for our children!” commented Wahoo Elementary Second Grade Instructor Kaitlyn Cooper. “Our two authors were so different and unique in their presentations. They lifted the kids up to realize we are all authors, and showed creative ways to write. It will be nice to have this class experience to relate to our classroom lessons!”
from left: nationally-renowned children's authors/illustraros Lori Richmond and Alan Katz.
In between their author/illustrator sessions, students enjoyed a picnic lunch and ‘Literacy on the Lawn,’ a variety of hands-on outdoor activities across campus meant to further enhance student literacy in fun, interactive ways.
"Mr. Privett, our K-2 teaching staff, and our transportation crew worked together to coordinate a special day for our youngsters to experience a love of writing and reading first hand,” said Wahoo Elementary Principal Ben Kreifels. “It was very rewarding to see the excitement in our Warriors' faces as they talked with authors from around the country and watched illustrators in action! My students and my own children returned to school with a deeper interest and love of reading"
And that makes this opportunity too valuable to pass up! Wahoo Elementary would like to extend a special thank you to Concordia University and the Festival coordinators for organizing this literary celebration, and we look forward to sending our students for many years to come.
