More News

Kindergartners in Teri Sala's class gathered at tables, hunched over books they shared while eagerly turning pages and reading aloud.

Each student in the Riverdale Elementary School classroom had written and illustrated a page in the book, titled "Friends are Fun!" Throughout the school, students spent six weeks writing their own books or helping create a class book.

Topeka, Kan.-based Nationwide Learning Inc. published the books for free through the Studentreasures program, and students saw the professional-looking, bound books for the first time June 11.

School principal Carol Cantu is also a published author who has written three books. She said she was excited when she came across the free program for her students.

"I saw that every child can be an author and I just know what that feels like when you see your first book," she said.

Reading specialist Donna Arquilla said she faces special challenges in encouraging reading and maintaining high reading level skills. Many students' parents can't afford numerous books or, with their work schedules, don't have time to take children to the library, she said.

At least 80 percent of families speak a language other than English at home.

"You would never see this enthusiasm normally," Arquilla said while watching Sala's students, without any prompting from an adult, trying to read pages in the book. "This is something they can relate to, it's from their background. It's familiar."

Students in the third through sixth grades each wrote a book, while kindergarten through second-grade students wrote class books. Third-grade teacher Linda Henderson said most of her students wrote about their families, friends, sports or superheroes.

"They were able to choose whatever topic," she said. "I really wanted them to have fun."

In another class, third-grader Yexis Romero-Fuentes, 9, wrote "The Best Teacher," about his second-grade teacher, Monika Gaj.

"She helped me when I didn't go on track," he said.

Some students, like third-grader Eric Vivar, 9, chronicled an entire day. He wrote "The Best Day of My Life," inspired by a trip to the fair.

Sala said her students were excited about the project because they have written books together before, but they were spiral-bound and "not like real books."

Through Studentreasures, one book for each kindergarten through second grade class is free and one book for each student in the third through sixth grades is free. The program requires that at least 80 students participate, and that parents be allowed to buy extra copies of the books.

Students wrote about their best friends in Sala's class book. She said she has encouraged social skills and kindness throughout the year.

"A lot of the kids wrote about each other and helping each other," Sala said.

Kindergartner Arturo Gonzalez, 6, wrote about how his classmate, Octavio Martinez, 6, helps him clean the classroom. Octavio wrote about helping Arturo after he fell down.

Well after the books had been distributed, the two friends sat at a table and turned each page of their class book, intently reading the pages together.

E-mail Elahe Izadi at eizadi@gazette.net.