Lights, Camera, Literacy!

The aroma of movie theater popcorn filled the air at Chesney Elementary one evening earlier this month when the Duluth school rolled out the red carpet for its reading and writing stars. Students eagerly clutched autograph books as they entered the school for a special night… Chesney's Lights, Camera, Literacy! event. Throughout the evening, students and families attended movie-themed sessions that focused on important reading and writing skills. In one session, children and adults teamed up to sequence ideas with a Peanuts movie storyboard. They read fluently, like actors and actresses, in “Acting Up!” Together, they made words with Finding Dory characters, rhymed with Minions, and more. Chesney parents left the event with new ideas of how to support their Chesney Champion readers and writers at home. And the school and teachers earned rave reviews from "fans" like Yuleika Ezro George who attended the event with her son. Ms. George said the movie theme helped both children and adults "relate, engage, and understand" how children can become stronger readers and writers. In a message, she said, "Thank you, Chesney Elementary faculty and staff, for putting on such an awesome literacy night!"