Perryville Elementary School Outstanding Readers

Motivating students to read at Perryville Elementary School is fairly easy to accomplish these days, especially since the students have an incentive that is definitely not "boar-ing!" Two reading incentive programs, the AR Reading Program and the Heart Reader Program, have expanded school-wide and have motivated the students to read tens of thousands of books so far this year. And if that wasn't motivation enough, the students will get to see their Principal, Jennifer Streiler, and Assistant Principal, Mike Wortmann, "Kiss a Pig" if the entire elementary school reads 50,000 books by the end of the school year.

"We are already at 38,850 books read," said Librarian Patty Wengert, "and I really don't think we'll have a problem reaching our goal of 50,000. The 'Kiss a Pig' promotion has definitely increased the number of books our students have read."

The elementary AR Reading Program, which has been in operation for many years, has changed the way it recognizes students reaching the 35-point mark. "In years past," said Wengert, "the students went to the AR store to spend their points. But this year, students are awarded a hat and a patch when a student reaches 35 points. After that, when they reach the next level, 50, 75, 100, etc. points, they get another patch at each level. Some of our kids have at least seven patches. The kids can take their hats with them at the end of the year and continue to put patches on it next year."

The other reading program motivating students to read is the Heart Reader Program. "Originally the Heart Reader Program was designed for second graders," said Wengert, "but we have lots of first graders and even some kindergarten students participating in this program. I have a special section of books that are series books with repetitive vocabulary, like Henry & Mudge, Poppleton, Iris & Walter and Mr. Putter and Tabby. I have placed a heart sticker on the cover of each book and kids that read 30 of these books and pass a test with 80% accuracy on each book is awarded a medal. We give all our heart readers special recognition on our morning broadcast. I make a special presentation, using the 'Royal Robe of Reading' which is draped over their shoulders before the medal is awarded. I even sing a special song for them. After that, they are given an opportunity to say a few words about being a good reader. The kids love this and together with the AR Reading Program (hat with patches) I have just seen them blossom as readers."

Since the beginning of the school year, two classrooms have reached an outstanding accomplishment. All the students in both classes have become "hat" and "heart" readers. "In two of our second grade classes, Mrs. Behrle and Mrs. Rollet, all the students have earned their hats and heart medals by meeting the goals of both reading incentive programs. Mrs. Behrle's class has read a total of 3,689 books so far this year and Mrs. Rollet's class has read 3,277. These are awesome numbers and I'm sure they aren't finished yet!"

The final incentive for the students is the "Kiss a Pig" promotion which will be held at the end of the year. "I think this is the coolest thing in the world," said Assistant Principal Mike Wortmann. "This has become a real big motivational factor for the students. They stop by my office and Mrs. Steiler's office daily and leave pig messages, pig cards, even pig cookies. They have made posters for the hallway and are finding all sorts of creative ways to remind us of what is coming. The kids talk to me about it every morning and at the buses in the afternoon. It excites me to see them so excited about reading. We want to do this thing up big at the end of the year, to have a big 'Pig-fest,' with games and activities. We've already talked to one of our staff members that raises pigs about getting a male and female pig here for the big event. I'm just tickled pink that the kids are having fun reading and to be a part of all of this. Mrs. Wengert's heart medals and hats and patches have made all the difference."

Principal Jennifer Streiler is also looking forward to the big day when the principals get to "kiss a pig." "I was raised on a farm," said Streiler teasingly, "and I'm not afraid of any pig. My biggest concern is getting the right shade of lipstick on to kiss that pig!"

Whatever the outcome, Wengert is just pleased that the students are enjoying themselves while getting lots of books read. "I just never dreamed that the heart medals and hats and patches would take off like this," said Wengert, "but the kids are really embracing it!"