By: Peggy Jackson, Haywood County Family Resource Centers Director

Covid-19 has certainly brought many changes this school year with few areas of education escaping its wrath. The Family Resource Centers’ reading incentive program, the Reading Wall of Fame, was no exception.

In the past, Anderson and Haywood Elementary students and families have used tally sheets at home to document the number of books read outside of school, either by the child themselves or read aloud by someone else. Children would return their Reading Wall of Fame sheets to school and were then recognized each nine weeks at their respective school’s award ceremonies.

In order to stop the spread of germs, yet keep the incentive and excitement for reading alive, educators modified the program. Once an individual event, participants now compete as a class in the race to 100 books. Teachers have a chart with 100 squares to check off for every book or chapter the class reads together.

We are excited to announce two classes at Anderson have each read 100 books. Congratulations to Mrs. Pam Thomason (PreK 4) and Mrs. Leslie Phillips (PreK 3) for achieving the Classroom Reading Wall of Fame! Each student received a ribbon, certificate and prize.

Parents, please read with your children every day at home. Not only will this be a special time together, you will build a love for reading. For children, listening reinforces fluency and comprehension. Reading affects every area of school. Thank you for continuing the love of reading at home and expanding on the principles teachers are building at school. The Haywood County Family Resource Centers are a team effort of UT Extension and Haywood County Schools. Please visit your resource centers’ facebook page daily for helpful tips for your family.