Willow Hill Elementary 'Reads-In'

Joyce Szayna, the reading specialist at , picked up the microphone to the school’s PA system at about 2:30 p.m. yesterday in the school’s office.

It was time to fill the hallways.

Szayna was letting every student know that it was time for the 23rd African American Read-In Chain; Willow Hill has been a link in the chain for five years.

The idea is simple: The fourth through sixth graders read to the younger students as they all sit in the hallway of the school.

What makes it special is the fact that each book selected to be read was either written by or illustrated by an African American.

The event is sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English and the National Council of Teachers of English.

Szayna said the school’s librarian helped the students select the books, and the students got about a week to practice reading the book aloud.

It took about 15 minutes for the students to exit their classrooms and line the hallways … and then find a seat.

“Read to the person to your right; introduce yourself and let them know how fabulous you are!” Willow Hill art teacher Anthony Shelton yelled to the students in the hallway.

There are about 360 students at Willow Hill Elementary School; and about 75 percent of the students are black, according to Principal Damon Jordan. Jordan said the read-in nicely incorporates Black History Month with reading — and helps the students develop a love for reading. Jordan said Willow Hill is the only school in the district participating in the read-in.

“Willow Hill is by far the most diverse elementary school in the Abington School District,” Jordan said. “It’s really important to develop a love and interest in reading, but during African American History Month I think it’s important for our children to become familiar with artists and illustrators of African American descent. For the most part, when we celebrate, our students are familiar with people like Dr. Martin Luther King and Thurgood Marshall, but there’s a disconnect when it comes to people who are less known, less famous. The initiative is meant to bridge that gap.”

The students read for about 30 minutes; Jordan wandered the hallways with a book, just in case some of the readers finished early.