MIDLAND, Texas — Literacy is one of the most important skills someone can have. Bunche Elementary School in Midland has made it their mission to excite and inspire students to open a book and learn something new. This school decided to do it in a creative way - through a StoryWalk parade.
StoryWalk is an innovative way for children — and adults — to enjoy reading, play and enjoy the outdoors all at the same time.
Bunche Elementary Principal Krista Daniel said “StoryWalk” is exactly what it sounds like — a movement and literacy boosting project that places an illustrated children’s book, taken apart and displayed page by page, along a designated walking route.
"My philosophy for education is if you could make something as a grain of dirt interesting, then you're going to grab a kid and have him excited for life," said Literacy Strategist Valerie Bobo. "So, I think when you choose a book that they're excited about, that they're going to want to read some more of them.”
And all students from pre-K through sixth grade did just that, picking a topic they were passionate about.
Pre-K read "Llama Llama Red Pajama", kindergarten read "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" and first graders read "Pete the Cat, I Wear My White Shoes". Second grade decided to read "Where the Wild Things Are", third graders read "Dragons Love Tacos", fifth grade read "Click Clack Duck for President" and sixth graders chose to read "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile".
Ben Ozuna has been teaching the third grade for 17 years and was very happy with the book his grade level chose.
"Since I love tacos and they do too, so we were just super excited that first of all, we had a book that was about our favorite food, and they were able to just celebrate it, so the kids loved it," Ozuna said.
Each class was able to showcase what they learned from their book through dozens of activities. The fifth graders created book reports, the fourth graders made posters similar to a book fair.
Mr. Ozuna, along with other third grade classes, wrote poems to present to their classmates and peers. The second grade did biography bottles after reading different biographies on upstanding figures in society.
"They've come in with these huge smiles on their faces," Bobo said. "They're just so excited to present what they've learned. So I think that's important for them to get excited about what they learned and then also be able to share it with their peers."
For some students, reading is a challenge and events like this open up the door for imagination and excitement to learn.
"When I see kids excited about reading it, it really it makes me super excited and also like somewhat emotional to see that nowadays kids are always on their iPads, they're super attached to technology," Mr. Ozuna said. "When it comes to reading a good book and following a great story and for them to get excited about it, that is something that is worth. I mean, it's priceless, honestly."
And the parents, couldn't be happier.
Wendy Grimaldo is a mom to three daughters, all who attended Bunche Elementary. She has a sixth grader that participated in the parade, but she also said she saw a lot of parents that were excited to join their kids for the school day.
"My child was a non-speaking Spanish and now she's the lead singer for the Mariachi program, so they also got to sing and just, you know, play the instrument and shoot and show off," Grimaldo said. "You know, they're happy. So, she was excited, she’s ready."
This is the second year Bunche Elementary has hosted a StoryWalk, but the learning doesn't stop when the school bell rings. They built their story walk all along the campus a few years ago with a new book on display each month. So, in the summer, if you have nothing for the kiddos to do, bring them by the school for a new fun interactive story.