By Sharlay Smith
The
Spring Park Elementary Family Reading Night Pajama Party was a hit as children and more than 60 parents came to school wearing pajamas, robes and slippers. They came with a blanket for their family to camp out on the floor, brought food to share with others and a gently used book to trade in the book exchange.
During the party, families shared a meal with friends and then settled down in the camping ground in the middle of the cafeteria to listen to Mrs. Harris and Roxy the Reading Dog read
Polar Express. Simultaneously, Mrs. Keels, the district's parent involvement specialist, turned the pages of her copy of Polar Express that was being displayed on a projection screen so everyone could see the pictures and follow along.
After the story, families participated in Polar Express-themed activities that included arts and crafts, a word-search puzzle with key words from the story, a recall activity where the students drew scenes from the story and provided a caption of the picture, and a sequence activity putting different phrases in order according to the story.
Each activity station was parent-directed, allowing parents to read the directions with their child. This provided parents the opportunity to practice reading activities they could implement at home.
During the pajama party, parents were down on the floor reading to or with their children. Mrs. Keels credited the program in getting parents and children actively involved in reading.
Toward the end of the event, families got a chance to take pictures with Roxy the Reading Dog and, as a souvenir, received the picture in a card thanking them for participating.
Parents had nothing but good things to say about the event; they really enjoyed themselves as much, if not more than the children. Principal Bradley-Pierce called the pajama party a "major success."
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