This past Monday, I had the opportunity to participate in the Lincoln Elementary School's 3rd Annual Read-A-Thon.
The morning started with coffee and donuts provided by the school and then about 15 community members and leaders were seated on stage, in front of a full school assembly. We were all introduced and five of us were asked to speak to the entire student body on why we like to read or what reading has meant to us in our life.
To warm the kids up, I asked them who has heard of G & E Roofing and about 20% of the hands were raised, but I'm pretty sure 20% of the students had not heard about us (has something to do with doing what the person beside you is doing.) Then I asked "how many of you students have heard of the China Dine-ah?" and about 90% of the kids raised their hands. I told them that made me feel a little bit better and I received many chuckles from the teachers and fellow community leaders. I also asked the students how many of them wanted to own their own business and work for themselves, and about half of the kids raised their hands.
At this point, I told the children, that I started these two businesses and currently own and operate them. I then explained to the children the importance of reading, if you have aspirations of owning your own business. I also mentioned to the children to find a topic or something that they really have a passion for and to read about that topic, whether it be a book from the library or online using a computer.
I also shared with them, my difficulties as a young child with reading and how in the fourth grade, I was reading at a third grade level, until my fourth grade teacher,
Mrs. Kidwell, got me reading short (6-8 small print pages)
Readers Digest stories, about things that interested me. I was trying to get through to the small percentage of kids, who were having difficulties reading themselves and wanted them to be able to relate, that others have overcome reading difficulties and were successful in life. These words were geared more towards the fifth and sixth graders sitting in the back of the room.
Although I've never been diagnosed, I am sure that I have a touch of ADHD in me somewhere and a whole book could not hold my attention, but the short stories were exactly what I needed. At the end of my fourth grade year, I was reading at a fifth grade level and no longer needed special attention. To this day, I can remember how much better I felt, about school, after receiving the help that I did. After all, I just wanted to be like the other kids. Thank you Mrs. Kidwell, rest in peace and I will be forever grateful for your efforts. You sure did make a difference in my life, as did many of my other teachers.
If you notice in the picture, there is an empty chair where I was supposed to be sitting. As Miss Higgins presented me with a book,
The Mitten by Jan Brett, I quickly realized that it was full of pictures with few words and how could I read this book without the children being able to see the pictures. Well, the solution was pretty easy, jump down to their level and keep right on reading. Before long, and you can't see it in the photo, there was a little guy resting his head on my back. When I finished reading, and got up, there was another student holding on to me as if to say "don't go." For a minute, I felt like what it must feel like to be a grandfather, and man, what a feeling! After all, my daughter Leslie is due in July and I must admit, becoming a grandfather has been on my mind.
Many thanks to Lisa Beede, Miss Higgins, and all the staff and students at Lincoln Elementary School for giving me the opportunity to come to your school and be part of the Read-A-Thon. As I always do, I feel that I took away more than I gave.
Norm reading to kindergarten students
If you are making plans to dine out on Valentine's Day, please consider us. Although it will be busier than a usual Thursday night, we should be able to accommodate everyone. Feel free to come early or come later, to avoid the 6 o'clock rush. We will be seating right up until 8 pm with a smile! Hope to see you there.
Happy Valentine's Day to All!
