Third-graders Tarina and Tobiah, first-grader Esther Debrum, and her kindergartener brother, Abraham, named their favorite book —”The Baby-Sitters Club,” “The Monster at the End of This Book,” “The Ugly Duckling,” and “Near and Deer”—as they were dashing around Midvale Elementary under the watchful eye of their parent, Alicia Ishimura.

“They all like to read and just had fun at the Starry Night station,” said Ishimura as they left the kindergarten hall.

Midvale Elementary had transformed into a campground for Camp Read-a-lot, the school’s annual literacy night. The event featured hands-on reading activities for students and families.

At the Starry Night station, students used glow-in-the-dark pens to practice high-frequency words.

“We want them to learn these sight words to free up their brains so they can learn others by identifying patterns and learning blending sounds,” kindergarten teacher Lacy Ruggles said. “Reading is important; it will help these kids be successful in the future.”

Her colleague, Megan Litster, added: “You need to read to do about everything.

Families explored themed areas such as a desert animal station, an ecosystem station, a s’more station and an acrostic poem station. In the library, a story time was hosted by Books for All, a grassroots book club which supports classroom and library book access.

“There’s a need for books in Title I schools,” said committee member Vivian Dowsett. “Once we heard there was a literacy night, we knew we needed to help fulfill the need by supplying books and donating our time to read with the students.”

Before leaving, families visited the national park puzzle station, where fourth-grade teachers staffed the area and reminded families that fourth graders receive free annual national park passes.

“We love they may have the possibility to explore Utah and our national parks, which ties into the curriculum we teach,” teacher Amy Parker said. “We love the community has really gotten involved tonight.”

Community school facilitator Heidi Sanger organized the event, which also included support from the Salt Lake County Library Services and student volunteers from Alta and Corner Canyon high schools.

“One of my favorite parts of literacy night is that it relates to core curriculum in each grade and often, student work is displayed that also ties into the event tonight,” she said. “Families are engaged in literacy activities, and they are learning how to support their children reading at home.” λ