McGregor students go all in with a One Read of "Frindle"

 

Students of all ages, grades and reading levels came together at McGregor Elementary to read Frindle by Andrew Clements as part of the school’s One Read program. 

Having the entire school read the same book fosters a love of reading and lets them enjoy the story together. This program ensures that students have the opportunity to read chapter books aloud to prepare for upper grades and allows everyone to practice critical reading skills as a building. 

“I chose Frindle as our second book because we are trying out a variety of genres,” said McGregor Principal Rebekah Johnson. “Our last book was fantasy and this book is realistic fiction. Clements tells a tale of a mischievous student and strict, old-school teacher seemingly at war with one another over a new word. The characters are complex, the plot has a great twist, and it creates so many opportunities to play with words.”

In addition to reading the book, classes are incorporating activities like dictionary races, radio caller trivia and creating their own class word like the book’s main character who makes up the word “Frindle." Students who use their made-up word were then given “detention slips” like the ones students in the book received. However, McGregor’s detention slips offered the students extra house points, rather than actual punishment. Students have also completed short writing prompts and got their very own frindle (an ink pen).

The students even got to step into the book when a special “reporter” arrived at the school on Sept. 16 to interview students live, in the middle of class. Volunteers visited classes dressed as a reporter and videographer, just like reporters do in the book and asked the students questions. This prompted students to work on their communication skills and rephrasing when answering questions. 

Johnson plans to have another all-school read in the spring, sponsored by the Downtown Church through the Ozarks Literacy Council. While the spring read has not yet been chosen, Johnson said she thinks it's time to dive into a mystery.