CELEBRATING READING; READERS VISIT TUMBLEWEED.

Byline: Greg Botonis Daily News Staff Writer

Like youngsters across the United States, Tumbleweed Elementary School pupils listened Tuesday to parents and civic leaders reading stories in a nationwide program aimed at promoting literacy.

In conjunction with the Read Across America program, students were allowed the entire day for recreational reading, an essay and art contest, and a book exchange program as well as the opportunity to earn prizes for book reports on a favorite piece by children's author Dr. Seuss, whose 95th birthday the day marked.

``Different teachers have done this on an individual level but this is the first time it's been school wide,'' said Tumbleweed third grade teacher Pam Lockwood. ``It's been a huge success and it has gone really smooth considering this is our first time doing it with the whole school.''

The more than 200 guest readers included Lancaster Vice Mayor Rev. Henry Hearns, Palmdale Councilman David Myers, Antelope Valley College Interim Dean of Language Arts Debra Tolar, plus parents.

In each classroom, students were allowed to lay in sleeping bags around a painted campfire while volunteers arrived in shifts to read to them.

Eighteen Tumbleweed students involved in the Gifted and Talented Education program put on the event by writing letters to community leaders to ask them to volunteer their time.

The GATE students also played host to the guest readers by providing refreshments and guiding them to the classes they were scheduled to read to.

``It's a great idea,'' said sixth grade GATE student Tasha Wilmes. ``It's to support kids in reading and it really helps.''

``They have done a great job organizing this,'' said Curriculum Resource teacher Marilyn Pearce. ``The purpose is to promote literacy and to model that readers are leaders and these students have certainly shown that.''

The book exchange program had the highest turnout. Nearly 200 students turning in books that they have read for nearly new books that they want to read.

A close second was the essay and art contest, in which students wrote about or create a picture depicting their favorite Dr. Seuss book.

``We have a student whose family just came from Bosnia and she wrote a very touching story relating her experience to the book `1 Fish, 2 Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish' by Dr. Seuss,'' said Marilyn Pearce. ``For someone who didn't speak the language very well in November - she spoke German - she expressed herself very well.''

Teachers, organizers and volunteers are already looking toward next year.

``It's a lot of fun and it gives the kids a chance to hear new stories in new voices,'' said second-year guest reader Peggy Ellsworth. ``It also gives the community and the parents a chance to get involved.''

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3 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) Author Felix Mayerhofer reads to first-graders at Tumbleweed School on Tuesday's reading event day, also Dr. Seuss' 95th birthday.

(2--Color) Palmdale City Councilman Joe Davies reads at Tumbleweed.

(3) Another guest reader, City of Lancaster Vice Mayor Henry Hearns, reads to Tumbleweed students.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News