Reading, it's always on their mind

By Colin Riddle  

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 1:40 p.m. (0)

That was the message Melissa Conroy, the daughter of New York Times bestseller Pat Conroy, brought to District 7 students this week as she read and talked about her two children’s books.

Conroy read to kindergarten and first grade students in the media centers at Pine Street Elementary and Houston Elementary Monday and at Chapman and Mary Wright Elementary schools Tuesday.

Conroy joined other writers such as Angela Johnson, Ron Rash, Matt Burgess, and Melinda Long for District 7’s Seven Reads Community Reading Initiative.

This year marks the first year in which the initiative includes all grade levels.

Seven Reads started six years ago at Spartanburg High School. Students are given a book of their choosing at the beginning of each summer.

During the beginning of the school year, students, along with the community, are invited to book discussions with authors and community leaders.

The goal of Seven Reads has been to bring awareness to the importance of students’ learning through reading.

Conroy has worked with students and teachers at elementary schools to motivate children’s interest in reading and writing.

“Children don’t tire of being read to,” said Frances Loudon, a first grade teacher at Pine Street Elementary for more than 30 years.

Conroy’s calm and warm demeanor welcomed students as she showed the same creativity and silliness they use every day in their classrooms.

Conroy pulled out her first book, “Poppy’s Pants,” a book about Penelope and her exploits to mend a hole in her grandfather Poppy’s khaki pants.

Conroy is also responsible for the illustrations, which include a collage of photographs and colorful drawings along with a few special pictures from her daughter, Ella.

“Poppy’s Pants” includes photographs of her hand sewn “woOberry” dolls, such as Penelope and Poppy.

Conroy believes illustrations are important in telling stories and encourage children to overcome the struggle in learning to read.

“The main point is to bring someone in who has a passion for books and story and to help them find the joy,” she said.

Conroy believes creating children’s books comes natural to her due to a long background in art, including drawing, painting, textile design and soft sculpture.

Conroy also shared her most recent book, “Grandma is an Author.” This book is available only at Hub City Bookstore in Spartanburg and will be published on Oct. 11.

The journal-style book illustrates a pressing issue among all levels of writers – writer’s block. Rusty, the story’s protagonist, discovers ways to remedy writer’s block for his Grandma Margot.

He builds a writer’s block monster for his Grandma out of recycled cardboard.

Although the book does not include Conroy’s illustrations, this didn’t stop her from sharing a variety of sketches she used to write the story, including sketches of her own monster.

The children were then given their first assignment: create a monster that would help them get over writer’s block.

Whether kind or mean or just plain silly, the monster’s design was to come from the student’s imagination.

As the children scattered about the media center, they were given oversized paper and crayons to let their creativity thrive.

The book also includes a journal for children to write and draw.

“I’ve had a lot of fun. The kids have been really good and with it. Ready to listen and be active,” she said of her experience.

Conroy’s books inspire people of all ages to see that everyone possesses the ability to create.

Conroy, a mother of two, said, “I’m lucky to be a kid.”

“It’s great for kids to see that adults go through the same things,” said Loudon.

Loudon helps students find topics and gives her students outlines of ways to write stories and be descriptive.

Pine Street Elementary has an incentive program where students are given small rewards for meeting different reading goals. Rewards include pencils, ice cream sandwiches, t-shirts or gold medallions.

Loudon has found her students to be on a variety of reading levels with the majority being at a median level.

The incentive allows for students to read at multiple levels and allows for parents to read with them.

Also, students who showed reading success over the summer will receive certificates, have their names displayed in the library, and be given the title of “Smart Cookie.”

“The greatest thing parents can do to prepare them for school is read to them,” said Lee Anne Bailie, an 11-year media specialist at Pine Street.

This Tuesday, Pine Street hosted “Stop, Drop, and Read.” On the order of Principal Anne Chapman Jeter, the entire school stopped and read for 10 minutes, including students, teachers, administrators, and custodians.

“It’s neat to think that the whole school will be reading at the same time,” said Bailie.

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