Bridgeport second graders welcome high schoolers for storytime
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BRIDGEPORT - High schoolers and elementary students at Bridgeport Exempted Village School District are growing closer with monthly visits by groups of upperclassmen to read to the little ones. On Nov. 4, the second graders got a visit from junior Adelyn Canter, senior Delanie Allen and sophomore Eilyn Brinker. Each stopped at a different teacher's room to share a story. For all three, this was a first time as visiting readers. They thanked Bridgeport High School Principal Jack Fisher for inviting them.
Adelyn had fun reading "How to Catch a Dinosaur" by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton, Adelyn was happy to reach out to the younger kiddos.
"I really enjoyed this opportunity. I think it's a great chance for kids to see different grade levels at a young age."
The second graders got to ask questions and react to the book.
"They were very excited, and the came up with their own ideas for how to trap a dinosaur," she said. She added the teacher said the second graders enjoyed the change. "They like it, and they said it's nice to have a different voice sometimes."
Delanie read "There's a Locket in my Pocket," by Dr. Seuss.
"It was fun. They were really interested in the book and having an older kid in there reading to them," she said. "They were really just interested in different creatures that Dr. Seuss has in this book."
Eilyn did her reading in her mother's classroom. Second grade teacher Rachelle Brinker was Eilyn's teacher growing up. She read "There's no place like Space" by Dr. Seuss.
"They all listened really well," she said. "They were all paying attention, and they did really well with it, and when they asked if they enjoyed the book they all said: 'Yes.'"
The high schoolers recalled their own time in elementary school and what it was like to return to the classroom.
Adelyn remembered seeing the older students.
"When I was in second grade I thought it was pretty neat because a few high schoolers would come to classrooms and help out and everything, and I thought it was a cool opportunity to see what their life was like, and to be able to do that, it's was inspirational."
She enjoyed revisiting the elementary.
"I think it's pretty cool. It's crazy to see how little everything is."
Now in her senior year, Delanie said it was interesting to see the up and coming classes.
"It was just really different, seeing how little everything is in there and seeing the older kids when I was in second grade really made me feel really cool, because I liked having older friends and being able to communicate with the older kids," she said.
"It's really fun to become a role model for them and show them how to be a good kid throughout high school and their school career."
Eilyn loved the experience.
"I took the opportunity because I remember being in elementary school and loving when older kids would come to our classrooms and read to us."
Eilyn added while she did not attend Bridgeport Elementary, she loved the decision to bring the older and younger grades together.
"We didn't have that opportunity as much, but I still remember when we would have a couple high schoolers coming to our classroom, which I always thought was pretty cool and I kind of looked up to them."
Adelyn is planning to go into the medical field as a radiologist or nurse, Delanie intends to go to nursing school and Eilyn is looking into business and real estate.
Bridgeport Elementary Principal Kamaron Sabinski was overjoyed to have the high schoolers visit her second graders.
"Absolute pleasure watching our high school students come down and read to our second graders. When asked if they enjoyed this, all thumbs went up immediately. They were all so excited, smiling and enjoyed every minute of it. We love having exceptional high school role models come into our building to show the importance of reading and what a joy it truly is to hear the stories read."