Elementary students get groovy with books
Sat, 2016-03-05 15:07
News Staff
Special to Leader-Press
Forget Woodstock students at Martin Walker Elementary are headed to Bookstock, the Groovy Book Fair, converging on their school thorough March 10. Every fair has a theme, and this one is Peace Love and Books.
Students have been watching the groovy book fair video highlighting the authors and new books that will be available for purchase. Students are also enjoying the lava lamp in the library and are visiting Wonderopolis.org to learn the science behind the mesmerizing lava floating in the lamp. Retro music from the past plays as students visit the library preparing for the arrival of the Groovy Book Fair. Students and their teachers are enjoying a ride in the cool party van as they head toward the fun of shopping at the fair. While all the hoopla makes the arrival of the fair exciting, the focus is still on the books for fifth graders Francine Perez, Paityn Kope and Jaelyn French.
“The best part of the book fair is buying books that take you on new reading adventures,” Perez said.
“Finding your new favorite book is fun at the book fair,” Pope said.
“I enjoy seeing all the new titles that are out,” French said.
Martin Walker Elementary School Librarian Teresa Garrett said book fairs serve a couple of great purposes.
“Of course, they are fund raisers to support all the great literacy activities happening in the library, but most importantly, book fairs allow students to shop for wonderful books to help build their very own personal libraries.
“Student choice in their reading materials is a powerful motivational tool that really gets students to read more. It is the goal for every student that they learn to love reading and will read more because reading is the gateway that makes all academic success possible,” Garrett said.
For many students, the book fair is the first time they have the opportunity to shop without a parent which provides a hands-on math lesson. Students learn how to compute the sales tax and figure out how much money they need to buy the merchandise they want. Students also learn valuable budgeting skills trying to get the best bargain for their money.
Garrett said the book fair will offer opportunities for teachers to grow their class libraries by making a wish list to share with parents. Students get to put a special book plate in the books they purchase and then donate to their class libraries.
The book fair will also be open late March 10 for the school’s spring open house.