Reading is fun for entire family

Kindergartner Anthony Dipaolo Jr. wants to teach his little brother Andrew two important skills: how to drink from a cup using a straw and how to read.

Anthony's love for reading led him and his father, Anthony Dipaolo Sr., to Wednesday's literacy breakfast at Moon Lake Elementary. The event, which was for kindergartners, first-graders and their families, was intended to encourage kids to read and write, and to educate parents about how to make literacy a part of their children's lives.

"This is all about his future," said Dipaolo, whose wife, Celisse, teaches at Moon Lake Elementary. "We want to make sure he's on the right track. We read with him at home, and we know that every little bit of reading helps. He's already reading above his grade level."

The school hosts literacy breakfasts three times a year for different grade levels and has drawn as many as 450 people in one year.

"It's so important that we involve the families in learning," said Valerie Burnett, the school's reading coach. "This is something that the parents ask for and enjoy coming to. ... And while they're here, they get family involvement activities to take home."

Aside from a free meal, families who attended the literacy breakfast got a folder full of word games, writing prompts, a journal for kids and other learning tools. Teachers led them through several exercises focused on literacy.

Reading teachers Nancy Dusseault and Joan Quina talked about the rhymes of Dr. Seuss, emphasizing the importance of rhyming and other forms of wordplay in teaching children to read and write.

Kids were given Cat in the Hat pencils and paper caps and identified popular Dr. Seuss characters.

Teacher Patricia Wise talked about how students are encouraged to write about what happens in their lives.

"We want the child to think of something interesting that happened to them, then to work with their family partners to develop their ideas," she said.

Anthony wanted to write about his love for reading - a love he yearns to pass on to his 2-year-old brother, Andrew.

"Every time I read, I get smarter and smarter," he said.