Early Elementary hosts an AR (Accelerated Reading) fair each year which is an all-day party to celebrate students’ reading accomplishments for the school year. At the beginning of the fair, teachers honor top point earners with recognition and prizes followed by the school’s biggest party of the year.
The fair includes activities and games such as inflatable slides, karaoke, face painting, a dance room, Minute to Win It challenges, and a Hands on the Wall competition where the students are willing to touch the wall all day as the prize is a $100 Wal-mart gift card. Other activities during the AR fair include a cookie walk, an educational game room, Gaga ball, and many more games and activities.The AR fair is fun for everyone including the teachers, according to 5th grade Reading Teacher and AR Fair coordinator Lisa Hunter.
“Our high school students get involved too. We have about 40 students from high school who come and help us with our fair booths and games. They love coming back and helping the ‘younger’ kids even though they were on our campus just a few years ago,” explained Hunter.
Mrs. Hunter stated that Accelerated Reading is a very important program for students to participate and helps them to experience educational and social growth.
“As a 5th grade reading teacher, I love the AR program. I believe if you have high reading expectations, students will rise up to meet them,” said Hunter. “This program helps build vocabulary and helps students develop their prediction making and inferring skills. When I see the students running around having fun at the fair, I don’t just think about the points they’ve earned, I think about all of the hundreds of characters they’ve gotten to know and all the new, exciting things they learned through reading books.”
Early Elementary Principal Sharon Watson further explained the importance of the AR program and fair.
“This is our way of providing a reward and a day of fun, such as the AR Fair, for our students who have read AR books all year and taken quizzes over what they read. It is our goal to develop in our students a love for reading and at the same time help develop comprehension skills,” explained Watson. “The staff and parents work incredibly hard to prepare booths and concessions for the kids. We could not do this without the help of our PTC organization, the high school students and parents. It is a fun way to end the year with a great reward for our students.”
Student Counselor Danielle Howard stated that the fair was a great end to the school year.
“Celebrating these kids and their reading accomplishments has easily made this my favorite day. We’re so grateful for all of the extra effort put in by our teachers, parents and volunteers to make this a special day to remember,” Howard said. “The kids’ laughter and smiles are a great way to end this year.”
Pictured above are Early Elementary students, “Ninja Turtles,” Venicia Acker, David Acker, Brysta Villipando, and Presley Dunlap.
Below are more photos from the event.
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Student Counselor Danielle Howard plays Twister with third grader Brody Bland. |
Pictured above are Mireyah Constancio and Chloe McMillan at the nail painting booth. |
Fifth graders Caroline Welker and Lillie Brandstetter enjoy cotton candy during the fair.
Tristan Horton, Early High School student and volunteer is pictured on an inflatable at the fair.
Early High School student Emily Isom paints Leila Gautier’s face.
