SP High School students have “Reading Buddies” with Bridges First Graders

Around noon on September 28th, a small line of 1st graders from Bridges Elementary in Sauk Prairie made its way towards the main entrance of the High School. Little eyes brightened in wonder as they entered the two-story atrium of the school. The first graders wound their way through the “big kid” halls to the library, where they were to meet their “Reading Buddies,” Sauk Prairie High Schoolers. The first graders stood at the entrance to the library in a line, patiently, as their high school buddies were gathered inside. They peeked around at the large spaces—they got to walk through the cafeteria—and got ready to do some reading. The brainchild of Sauk Prairie teachers Kari Nelson and Bridgette Baldwin, Reading Buddies is an activity where first graders from Bridges read along with a partner from a high schooler in a Communication Arts class. They meet every week, in person, and read through their favorite books.  Says Nelson: “Bridgette is the first-grade teacher at Bridges who joined me last year in getting this collaboration going with my Communication Arts students and her early readers. My initial thinking was that my high school juniors and seniors would promote literacy while practicing their vocal and facial expression; they would read, tell stories, and converse. However, the program has developed to include the first graders reading to the “big kids.” It is so rewarding to see the pride with which the children share their emerging reading skills, and I get to witness the generous and sweet interactions of the high school students with the youngsters. My big “kids” are heroes to those “littles”!” She continued: “We trade off every other week with our visits -- last week my high schoolers walked over to Bridges.” The Star News was invited to photograph the Reading Buddies at the High School library on the 28th. Here are the photos.