A fun partnership is bringing two schools closer together. Sixth graders at Charles T. Koontz Intermediate School worked this past school year with third graders from William W. Estes Elementary to strengthen their reading skills and build connections with one another.
Sixth grade English Language Arts teacher Delana Parker says this is a tradition that she has been doing with the students Koontz for a while. Over the course of the year she has noticed a difference it has on her students.
“When I started teaching sixth grade, I decided to keep reading buddies going with Estes Elementary because they were close to our school and I feel like it is such a beneficial concept,” Ms. Parker said. “I hope my sixth graders gained a sense of importance as a role model this year. It is a huge boost of confidence to all kids participating in this endeavor.”
The students not only read with their young peers, but they have worked on crafts together and as a voice of encouragement right before the end of grade testing (EOG).
“We invited our third grade friends to come to Koontz just before everyone took the EOG,” Ms. Parker said. “We typically walk to our elementary friends, but I thought we should have them over at least once so they can see where they will attend someday soon. I look forward to continuing this partnership next year with new faces.”
