Monroe students meet a loved author, receive books to kick off I Love to Read month

A high-energy school-wide celebration held as a kick-off to I Love to Read Month at Monroe Elementary School in Brooklyn Park, which included a surprise ending and a special parting gift -much to the delight of students.

Why it matters: Building excitement and student interest in young readers supports the school’s deep commitment to delivering strong literacy outcomes for students. Anoka-Hennepin has identified improved reading in all grades as a district strategic priority, and Monroe took a leadership role in the district’s implementation of a new reading curriculum and instructional practices based on the Science of Reading principles.

Action-packed: At the special event, students not only met local author VT Bidania as she launched her new book A Year Without Home, the 200 fourth- and fifth-grade students were also gifted copies of the book and the K-3 students received copies of Bidania’s other book series, Astrid and Apollo and Extraordinary Elliana for their classroom libraries.

Go deeper: A Year Without Home is a middle-level novel that tells the story of a Hmong girl losing and finding home in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The book was selected for its strong literacy skill-building and student engagement, including its verse (poetry) format, which supports reading comprehension, as well as its strong cultural relevance and representation for Monroe students and the community served. 

Reading partners: Monroe’s success with student literacy is supported by skilled teachers and a series of partnerships with organizations and individuals dedicated to supporting student success. This event served as a showcase of that support and included the following partners: 

• Read With Me MN, a local non-profit organization dedicated to supporting local authors and for building capacity in young readers through culturally relevant books, provided the book donations and supported the special presentation at Monroe. 
• Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation: The event included an original musical performance of “I Forever Call Home,” a song written by the author and inspired by the book’s themes of family, migration, and belonging. Music was performed by a band that featured students playing ukuleles provided to Monroe this fall by a grant from the Anoka-Hennepin Education Foundation. 
• Student performances: Students Tecumseh and Fitzgerald Vang provided a special performance of dancing and playing the Qeej, a traditional Hmong instrument. 

February is “I Love to Read Month” across the entire Anoka-Hennepin School District and the gift of a new book will ensure Monroe students will get off to a strong start. 

Watch the video story of the event by CCX News.
View photos from the event.