
Swans
Creek
Elementary
School
students
were
truly
excited
to
celebrate
reading
and
books
during
their
recent
spring
read
aloud
event,
the
"Swan-Tastic"
book
giveaway.
The
celebration
included
components
that
kept
the
fun
and
learning
going
well
beyond
that
day,
which
included
a
book
giveaway,
"book
talks,"
and
teacher
read-aloud
sessions.
Rebecca
Michalewicz,
Title
I
reading
teacher
at
Swans
Creek
Elementary,
followed
the
day's
events
up
with
a
virtual
evening
session
for
parents,
to
provide
discussion
ideas
for
reading
at
home,
useful
comprehension
questions
to
accompany
the
teacher
read-alouds,
and
assistance
with
using
Flipgrid
for
those
who
needed
it.
"Based
on
the
success
of
our
winter-themed
read
aloud
event,
I
knew
this
would
be
another
hit,"
said
Michalewicz,
who
organized
the
event.
"During
our
winter
event,
students
continued
to
upload
recordings
months
following
the
events;
we
had
2,167
views
and
227.8
hours
of
engagement.
Our
students
really
enjoyed
showing
off
their
skills
and
I
hope
they
continue
to
do
so
this
spring."
A
month's
worth
of
planning
included
invitations
and
news
updates
to
families,
ordering
books,
organizing
supplies
by
grade-level
and
need,
and
sorting
books
in
preparation
for
a
drive-through
pick
up
event,
held
throughout
the
day.
Teachers
signed
up
for
30-minute
time
slots
to
read
stories
to
students
and
record
them
for
later
viewing.
The
school
used
Title
I
funding
to
purchase
books
and
supplies,
such
as
bookmarks,
notebooks,
pens,
pencils,
reading
trackers,
and
teacher-created
thinking
stems
to
promote
comprehension
and
talking
points.
Every
student
received
a
blue
monogramed
Swans
Creek
bag
filled
with
at
least
eight
books
to
take
home
and
resources
to
build
their
reading
skills.
During
the
book
pick
up,
teachers
selected
from
the
rows
of
book-filled
boxes
based
on
each
student's
reading
level
and
interest.
Teachers
encouraged
students
to
make
their
own
recordings
reading
or
reviewing
books
of
their
choice
using
FlipGrid.
Flipgrid
is
a
platform
used
regularly
in
elementary
schools
for
lessons
and
learning
in
the
classroom.
The
recordings
gave
students
a
familiar
tool
for
practicing
reading
fluency
and
summarization
skills.
"These
events
have
been
amazing
and
really
pulled
our
community
together,"
said
Michalewicz.
"I
loved
seeing
the
students
pulling
the
books
out
of
their
bags.
There
were
so
many
gasps
of
excitement.
My
favorite
was
seeing
one
of
our
fifth
graders
pulling
out
her
books
and
hugging
them
so
tightly
while
telling
her
mother,
'It's
Percy
Jackson!'
which
is
one
of
the
many
book
titles
we
gave
out.
It
was
a
long
day
of
running
back
and
forth
from
car
to
the
gym--I
got
almost
20,000
steps
that
day!--
but
it
was
worth
the
preparation
and
time."