All three elementary schools in Hilton – Northwood, Quest and Village – are having fun reading about an enthusiastic corgi and an evil genius guinea pig over the first two weeks of February as they participate in this year’s Three Schools, One Book selection Wedgie and Gizmo by Suzanne Selfors.
This hilarious book about the growing pains of blended families and the secret rivalry of pets led to much creativity as principals and teachers introduced the book to their students. The elementary principals created a video to introduce the book that is available at Hilton.k12.ny.us. At Northwood, Library Media Specialist Emily McFarlane and Teacher Melanie Klock also performed a skit before students received their books.
This is the first year Northwood Elementary has joined with Quest and Village to participate in this program that not only provides a free book for each family but encourages and enables reading together at home by providing many tools, resources, guidance, and support.
Classes and families are given discussion questions pertaining to the day’s reading. A Google Classroom is available with resources and activities related to the book, including chances to win prizes. Quest also created a FlipGrid that students can use to discuss the book.
“The program is designed to promote connection through literature,” said Quest Library Media Specialist Stephanie Harney. “We want parents and kids to take a few minutes from their hectic lives to have a shared reading experience. With sports schedules, activites, and just the hustle and bustle of daily life, reading as a family is harder to accomplish. This sets aside time where families have structured activities to get them reading together. Having all three schools reading the same chapters every day will also bring connection in neighborhoods and the overall community.”
As a special treat, Suzanne Selfors, the author, will be visiting all three elementary schools the first week in March for the first live author visit in three years.
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