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Onekama School Celebrates March Is Reading Month
Something mysterious is
taking place at Onekama Consolidated Schools. No need
for fear: student detectives are on the case, boosting
their reading skills as they work together to solve,
read, and write mystery stories.
The theme for this year’s
March Is Reading month is “March Mystery Madness,” and
Onekama teachers have some thrilling adventures in store
for their students. Included in the planned cast of
characters is a visit from real-life Detective Jim
Doering from the Manistee County Sheriff Department on
March 25 to discuss his job responsibilities and help
students understand the procedures for investigating and
solving crimes.
Throughout the month,
students are learning the words from a detective’s
dictionary, such as: alibi, clue, crime, detective,
evidence, mystery, red herring, sleuth, suspect, victim,
and witness. For some elementary classes, these words
are spelling words or challenge words for the month.
Students are also studying
the ingredients for a good mystery: characters
(suspects, detective and witnesses), setting, plot (a
problem that needs to be solved, an event that cannot be
explained, a secret, something that is lost or missing
or a crime that has been committed, clues (hints that
help the detective), and red herrings (clues that lead
the detective off track).
On Mondays, middle school
and high school teachers along with National Honor
Society students are serving as “mystery readers” in
elementary classrooms. They are reading their favorite
mysteries. “I enjoyed reading The Orange Outlaw to the
fifth grade,” commented Onekama Senior and NHS member
Lauren Pokorzynski. “The students were interested in the
story and asked some good questions.”
There is mystery in the
air as well. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8:00 a.m., a
NHS student reads aloud a mystery over the intercom
system in a special segment of “Mystery Radio.” Students
then have the opportunity to solve the mystery. If they
guess the correct suspect, then they may win a prize. "I
like trying to guess who is reading the mystery over the
speaker," said Perla Andres, a second grade student in
Mrs. Eichberger-Kudlack's class.
Thursdays are designated
as special dress up days: Hats Off to Good Mysteries
(Wear a Crazy Hat), Get Mixed Up with a Good Book (Wear
Mixed Up Clothing), Cozy In with a Good Mystery (Wear
PJs and Slippers) and Sock It to the Suspects (Wear
Silly Socks).
Young Author’s Night will
take place on Thursday, April 7 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in
the Onekama School Media Center. During this event,
students will share the original books they have written
and illustrated to a small audience.
“Young Author’s Night
gives our elementary students the opportunity to
practice reading aloud and to share their work with
family and friends,” explained Onekama School Title I
teacher Shantel Niederstadt. “We hold this event every
year, and it really is a special night for our
students.”
The culmination of the
reading celebration will take place on Friday, April
15th at 1:00-2:00 p.m. in the school’s new gymnasium
with a visit from Michigan author Jonathan Rand. He
lives in Indian River and has written the popular
Michigan Chillers, American Chillers, and Freddie
Fornorter: Fearless First Grader series. In a special
presentation, Mr. Rand will give students a first-hand
look at the process of creating and writing a successful
suspense story.
There are mysteries
lurking behind every door of Onekama Elementary School
this month. What is not a mystery, however, is the great
planning by the teaching staff and the wonderful
enthusiasm of their students. The evidence does not lie:
“March Mystery Madness” is one thrilling adventure! |
