BRIDGEPORT – The youngest students at Bridgeport Exempted Village School District are getting a head start in reading and writing. The kindergarteners had their first experience as authors this school year when they wrote and illustrated their own books, following the state standards. Selected kindergarteners read their books to parents and families during a Title 1 gathering.
Title 1 teacher Maria Kayafas greeted the families and commended them and their children for the impressive results. Kayafas talked about the many benefits of reading, such as building a stronger vocabulary. She encouraged reading at home every day, and for families to both read to their children and discuss the story afterward.
Kayafas said in writing and illustrating their books, the kindergarteners demonstrated construction and comprehension of a narrative by pointing out examples in their stories.
She also introduced Title 1 Coordinator Lisa Clark, who serves as technology director for the school district.
“We’re very fortunate to have Title 1 programs here,” she said. “There’s a need.”
Kindergarten teachers Miki Clegg, Caitlynn Miller and Morgan Castilowinvited their students to read. The children described different animals, listing qualities and asking the audience to guess which animal they were talking about by the ending.
Afterward, Clegg commended the kiddos for their hard work.
“It’s a long process. When they come in, we just start learning their letters and their sounds, then we move on to putting sounds together to build words. This writing phonemically in kindergarten is a stage in their development, so this definitely helps them get the writing process to move on to first grade.”
She added the students find it rewarding to progress to this point.
“When they come into kindergarten, some of them don’t even know their letters or sounds. It’s a huge improvement at the end of the year that they’re writing words and writing sentences.”
Credit also goes to family support.
“Our parents are great. They work with our students at home, reading every night.”
Parents included Cole Smelley, who will run the Dog Pound fitness center that will be part of the multipurpose “Bridge” facility now being completed on campus. Smelley is himself a writer of music and poetry and knows the importance of literacy.
“I’m excited to hear what my son wrote, and I’m excited to hear him read,” he said. “I think it’s awesome they’re helping them learn and be excited about reading and excited about writing.”
Smelley is happy to see the progress his child is making.
“He loves school and he has fun with it. His teachers make it fun and all the faculty make it fun, and they really enjoy it.”
Cheerleading Coach Kaylynn Yates was present to hear her daughter read.
“She did a very good job. It’s nice to see the creativity that they all come up with.”
Robyn Farrier was proud to see her child’s hard work.
“She’s really improved with her reading and writing. She’s always been really good with art,” she said.
Nick Widmor, another parent, praised the school’s culture of encouraging literacy.
“We read to him every day. He loves to read,” he said. “It’s fun to watch him do what he did today. It was impressive. Bridgeport does a wonderful job. They really put a lot of effort forward to making sure these children are going to be ready.”
