Two students enjoying one of the many reading activities at Galva Elementary. [Submitted photo]

Teachers at Galva Elementary School certainly know the importance of reading and have found a unique way to engage students and their families in the healthy habit.

Galva Elementary School’s “Let’s Glow Read” program promotes a love of reading for students and their families in thoughtful ways – one of which is the Family Reading Night, held last Thursday, March 21 at the school.

To prepare for the night, students complete a monthly calendar where the minutes they read each evening are recorded. Reading alone, reading aloud to someone, or listening to someone read to them all count towards their goal.

The results are tallied and top achievers and classrooms with the most minutes are both recognized. The reading night opens with a welcome to the families, an award ceremony, and a raffle. After this students and families are directed to select classrooms for special activities, all aimed at promoting the benefits of reading.

Students enjoy the glow cup activity. [Submitted photo]

Winners this month are:
Pre K – Kaliyah Leeper and Lorelei Leaf
Kindergarten – Mercer Trigg and Parker Dulla
First Grade – Waylon Peterson and Kemper Trigg
Second Grade – Addison Boston and Knox Glaser
Third Grade – Ryder Johnson and Addison Hoenig
Fourth Grade – Klaire Gale and Evalyn McCurdy
Fifth Grade – Olivia Funke and Jacob Boston
Sixth Grade – Aubrey Dowell-Keup and Ellory Glaser

According to teacher Amanda Dynes, community groups and storytellers are often invited to share readings.

“On occasion, staff have dressed as storybook characters to engage and entertain the students,” she said.

Special events such as story/craft stations, stem/glow reading activities, reading bingo, book walks, and book fairs are all designed to make reading and learning fun.

Students participate in the book walk activity. [Submitted photo]

“At Galva Elementary, we emphasize literacy and want to help every child be able to read at grade level”, Dynes said. “We want to develop a lifelong love of reading.”

With an enrollment of 250 students, the program is popular and far-reaching. And Thursday night’s session proved that with over 50% of students and families participating. In addition to the night’s activities, the Galva Kiwanis and K-Kids Club volunteers provided dinner for the 164 who attended the evening program.