VIDEO: Sheridan Hill Elementary School Students Enjoy Book A Day Program

Each day, students at Sheridan Hill Elementary School have the opportunity to explore the world, learn about different cultures and find characters that connect to their lives, as they hear a story from Principal Jenna Arroyo.

Arroyo takes time each school day to stop into a classroom to read to students as part of her Book A Day Program. 

“Reading is such an important part of literacy,” she said. “Whether kids are reading on their own and being immersed into books that they love, or having me or a teacher read to them, it really opens up the world of possibilities.”

In the third grade classroom of teacher Sarah Fiegel, Arroyo read “The Bear and the Piano” by David Litchfield, in which a bear’s discovery of a piano in the forest leads him on a whirlwind adventure of music and friendship. Students eagerly listened, and pointed to visuals in the book that tied into bigger themes like perseverance. 

“They notice things that I don’t, even after reading it multiple times,” Arroyo said. 

Finishing her reading, Arroyo snapped a photo of students with the book, which would become one of the artistic collages she makes each day to share the reading with families of students.

The program, in its second year, has given Arroyo 180 opportunities across 180 school days to connect with students’ learning and tie in to larger lessons being shared across the school. At different points of the year, the book series has involved books featuring different states and regions across the United States, as well as different countries. Arroyo said she loved taking the time to pick books for the program, and the feedback from students as well as educators who also share the books in their classrooms

“Kids will stop me in the hall and say, ‘Mrs. Arroyo, what book are you reading? What classroom or are you going to?’ And I can't wait to share that with them,” she said. “I love that they get excited for that.”

The program is one of multiple initiatives that take place at the school to encourage student learning and literacy. The school has ongoing organizations like the “One School, One Book” Book Club, which shares a single book across grade levels, and seasonal activities like the March Madness Tournament of Books to allow students to select a favorite picture book. 

“It's a great way to bring community and literacy throughout our building,” Arroyo said.