Diggs-Latham Elementary School’s annual Literacy Night was an exciting time of “FALLING into Reading” through navigating the “corn maze” of games, activities, and challenges.
“Each year, we hold curriculum nights to allow families the opportunity to learn together with their children, and in deeper learning and A+ Magnet style, our Literacy Night Committee and Leadership Team have revamped the events to be hands-on, rigorous, and relevant experiences,” said Magnet Coordinator Amanda Gordon.
Families were welcomed by a fall display of chrysanthemums and hay as they entered the lobby full of pumpkin décor, leaf vines, and corn maze signs and images. Each student received a printed maze with instructions that walked them through the literacy activities. Grade levels planned literacy games that challenged students to apply their skills such as “Autumn Syllable Rhythms,” “Falling [dancing] into Phonics,” and “Pumpkin Sound Toss,” just to name a few.
A favorite stop along the corn maze was the facepainting station. This station was managed by student volunteers from Parkland High School, Reagan High School, and Reynolds High School. Of course, Taz, our tiger mascot, was nearby posing at the photo booth and visiting the bookfair.
The corn maze took twists and turns and included “talking tiger messages” as families scanned QR codes along the way. Students wore storybook character costumes or fall attire. A series of scarecrows were spotted throughout the literacy night corn maze, and they looked very much like the leadership team and literacy night committee members.
“Students were excited to have their families at school and work their way through the series of literacy games in the corn maze. It was definitely a night of ‘learning and growing in harmony,’ which is our theme for the year,” stated Assistant Principal Traci Latta.
Thanks to our community partners, Costco and William White YMCA, students took home new bookbags. They received a free book once they completed the maze, as well as an entry in a raffle for a basket of books and school supplies.
“We had a nice crowd for our fall reading night,” said Dr. Cassandra Dobson, Diggs-Latham’s principal. “When we are always reading, we are always learning, as my students hear me say often. It is wonderful to see students and their families learning together and enhancing their reading skills in such a fun way.”
Submitted by Diggs-Latham Elementary School Magnet Coordinator Amanda Gordon