Reading, careers mix at Spencer Elementary

By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

May 14, 2008 07:14 pm

— GENEVA — A love for horses and dogs fuels 7-year-old Jamie Bradbury’s desire to be a veterinarian, and a good reader, too.
“You have to know how to read to be a vet,” Jamie said. “You have to read about the treatments for the animals or else it might say the dog has fleas and you think the treatment is he needs a friend. Then the dog would have a friend, but he would still have fleas.”
Jamie and the rest of teacher Kim Ellis’ second grade class at Spencer Elementary School learned about the importance of reading in different careers Wednesday during Right to Read Week activities.
“The theme this year is reading in the real world, as a way to help the students understand how important reading is in day-to-day life,” Ellis said.
The week-long activities included making posters, accomplishing reading goals, and writing reports on interesting careers.
Emily Blake, 8, dressed as a Geneva-on-the-Lake firefighter and said she loves to read and figure out questions and riddles in books.
Adam Biery, 8, dressed as a soldier.
“I want to help my country because I love my freedom,” he said. “I know reading is important to a soldier because you have to read about how to use your weapons and you have to read maps.”
Emma Bell, 7, dressed as a sheriff’s deputy and said law enforcement officers have to read to be able to write tickets and citations.
Tiffany Aponte, 8, said she has learned a lot about reading this year.
“I have learned a lot of hard words, like ‘discovery.’ That was a hard one for me,” she said.
David Washington, 8, wore his father’s auto mechanics shirt for career dress up.
“If you are ever repairing a car, you have to be able to read the number on the part of the car. If you accidentally put the wrong part in the car, you might have an accident,” he said.
Has his dad ever made that mistake?
“No way! My dad is the best mechanic,” he said.
Ellis said the students will carry on with reading activities through the week.
“This has been a week of wonderful participation,” Ellis said. “The students have been reading and writing and having so much fun the days just fly by.”