Listening and learning with Dr. Seuss

The Times-Reporter
·2 min read
Grandparents Ron and Sue Coventry dressed the part and added a little St. Patty’s Day attire when they came in to read "The Cat in the Hat."
Grandparents Ron and Sue Coventry dressed the part and added a little St. Patty’s Day attire when they came in to read "The Cat in the Hat."
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The students in the preschool and pre-k classes at Immaculate Conception School invited friends and family members to share their favorite Dr. Seuss book and unique reading style.

There are so many benefits from reading and being read to that we decided to combine that with Dr. Seuss’ birthday which was March 2. The children enjoyed having visitors read the sometimes wacky stories and then do learning activities to go along with the book.

Jeff Contini, the Cat in the Hat, poses with his daughter Savannah’s pre-k class when he come in to read to the class.
Jeff Contini, the Cat in the Hat, poses with his daughter Savannah’s pre-k class when he come in to read to the class.

Moms and dads, brothers and sisters, teachers and friends, and even folks from the community enjoyed reading as much as the kids enjoyed listening. Two different families came in to read dressed as The Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2. Everyone enjoyed the surprises. Another father stated it was the best feeling having your 5 year old son introduce you to his class before reading.

Fr. Jeff Coning read Dr. Seuss’s "There’s a Wocket in my Pocket."
Fr. Jeff Coning read Dr. Seuss’s "There’s a Wocket in my Pocket."

Brothers and sisters, many of who were former students of Ronna Coventry, came in to read. The look of pride on the preschoolers faces, as well as Coventry’s, was priceless as they read. Only a few years before these same children were sitting here listening and now they are reading.

Hudson Knight was very proud to have his sister Brynn read to the class.
Hudson Knight was very proud to have his sister Brynn read to the class.

There is no lack of community support in Tuscarawas County for children and education and especially Coventry’s classes. Martha Campbell from the Tuscarawas County Engineers Office started her day off by reading the tongue twister “Oh Say Can You Say” and Tracie Bolitho from Over the Rail read her favorite book from inside the restaurant and the children were able to watch it on the Smart Board.

Timmy Gardner enjoyed reading to his little sister Julia’s class as much as she did.
Timmy Gardner enjoyed reading to his little sister Julia’s class as much as she did.

Technology was also used when Ann and Kelly Goodrich read “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” from aboard the Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas. The video was shot while the ship was docked in Costa Maya, Mexico, it showed the ship and the beautiful ocean which sparked more questions and learning by the children. The couple has basically lived on Caribbean Ships for the past 11 years as an entertainer, and all the time supporting activities of the preschool.

Harper Grandison was so proud to have her Grandma, Betty Howard, read to the class.
Harper Grandison was so proud to have her Grandma, Betty Howard, read to the class.

Visitors continued to visit the classroom and read until the end of the month, remembering this quote by Dr. Seuss:

“The More that you read,

The more things that you will know.

The more that you learn,

The more places you will go.”

— Dr. Seuss

Kara Harrison, former student of IC and college student, took time out of her spring break to read to the preschool class.
Kara Harrison, former student of IC and college student, took time out of her spring break to read to the preschool class.

— Submitted by Ronna Coventry

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Students enjoyed listening and learning with Dr. Seuss