Salt River Elementary School is encouraging K-3 students to step up to the challenge of using 21st-century skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity by joining the Little Readers, Big Leaders Book Club through the Eagles Club Afterschool Program.

The Eagles Club is made possible with the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) and serves approximately 120 students during the school year and about 100 in the summer in grades K-6.

The Little Readers, Big Leaders Book Club is designed to help younger students practice the recommended 20 minutes of daily reading to improve vocabulary, reading strategies and reading skills.

“When the pandemic set in, we needed something that was effective, easy to implement and needed minimal supplies. The Little Readers, Big Leaders Book Club hit all of those marks and aligned with the Salt River Schools ongoing literacy efforts,” said Devin Hardin, 21st CCLC program coordinator. “Students get an extra dose of reading in a relaxed environment with themes like belonging, friendship, confidence and kindness. The kids get into really great conversations. It has been exciting to see. Even younger siblings make their way over to sit in to listen.”

Book club members have been reading books by authors Jacqueline Woodson and Junie B. Jones, and plans are in place to incorporate more books that are authored and centered around Indigenous stories.

The book club currently is virtual and meets twice a week for an hour after school through the Salt River Schools Microsoft Teams platform. Book club leaders use e-books as well as regular books.

The program is still accepting students and would love to grow the kindergarten class participation. You can register your student at https://sres.saltriverschools.org/s_r_e_s_news/announcements.