KMC educators strengthen children's imagination

by Airman 1st Class Holly Mansfield
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

3/11/2014 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany  -- Kicking off its 17th year, more than 45 million students, educators and parents celebrated Read Across America in schools stateside and on military installations overseas. Read Across America week ran from March 3-7 at Kaiserslautern Military Community schools and Child Development Centers.

Using hands-on activities, children learned the power of reading and how it affects the over-all learning process.

"Read Across America is always held around March 2 to celebrate the week of Dr. Seuss' birthday," said Pam Garrett, Ramstein Elementary School teacher. "All week the school has different themes for the children to dress up for and have different activities to go with our theme of 'Sink Your Teeth Into Good Books All Year Long.'"

Throughout the week, people from around the community volunteered at elementary schools and CDCs to read and organize activities for students.

"We are so fortunate to have a lot of volunteers, from older students to spouses and military members, coming out to read to children and help set up different activities," said Garrett.

Cheryl Woodruf, Ramstein Elementary School second-grade teacher, invited a special guest of her own to read to her class.

"Ms. Woodruf and her second-grade class were very kind to invite me. I appreciate it very much and they selected the book for me to read," said Sharon Gorenc, wife of Gen. Frank Gorenc, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander. "I really enjoy Dr. Seuss but I admit I had to practice reading the book first because, as you know, Dr. Seuss likes to put a lot of tongue twisters in his stories."

With different themes for each day, such as, wear green Monday and Cat in the Hat Thursday, children at Ramstein Elementary School used hands-on techniques to celebrate the week. Each class throughout the school also does activities such as making their own green eggs and ham.

"I think experiencing a book takes it to a whole other level," said Gorenc. "Hands-on activities do just that and actually eating green eggs and ham can make the story come alive. It makes a great impact on children, captures their imagination and fosters even more love of reading."

Using different techniques to grasp a child's attention in a story is a characteristic that some praise Dr. Seuss for accomplishing. Having different words, some made up, that rhyme to keep the story going can grasp a child's imagination so it can grow.

"What I think makes Dr. Seuss so unique is that he has a lot of rhythm and rhyming in his stories," said Gorenc. "He's very poetic so it makes it fun to read. He also throws in a lot of crazy characters and words that I think make it capture a child's imagination."

For a former teacher, like Gorenc, showing children the power of a good education is a way of life.

"It's really important to instill in young people a love of learning and reading at an early age because that's when you can start building their confidence in learning," said Gorenc. "I don't teach anymore but it's who I am and what I wanted to do. I used my skills with my own children and still work with my granddaughters."

Gorenc believes building a bond between children and the person teaching them during the celebration week is just the beginning.

"Read Across America is wonderful but I think that it's a start," said Gorenc. "I believe that you should celebrate reading every week. If you can set aside reading time with your children, then make it fun and sneak in a little bit of learning and confidence building."

Through Read Across America week, KMC educators showed children that reading and promoting education is for all ages at all times of the year.