Businesses inspiring children to read

Photos by Shari Harris
To celebrate National Newspapers in Education week, which was the first week of March, Alan Thomas’ third grade class at Raymondville R-VII School met with Jason Stone and Jennifer Williams, of Progressive Ozark Bank in Licking and Houston. Progressive Ozark Bank sponsors the program at Raymondville and Success schools, and free newspapers are delivered to the third grade classes each Wednesday, weather permitting. From left, Stone, Williams and Thomas make up the back row in this class photo. Thomas searches for unique ways to integrate the newspapers into classwork, like having students cut out the letters for their spelling words, and collaborating with art to make newspaper baskets. Students also seek out their vocabulary words in the articles. Williams handed out some frisbees for the class.

Phelps County Bank in Rolla sponsors the delivery of weekly newspapers to the third graders at Phelps County R-3 School. Their representative was unable to meet at the classroom, but the students were glad to receive their newspapers. Teacher Mackenzie Spurgin said the children will often take the newspapers home to their families.