Courtesy Photo | Capt. William Brown, an officer with the 2nd Battalion, 381st Regiment, reads to a...... read more read more
By Maj. Holli Goddard, 2nd Battalion, 381st Regiment, 479th Field Artillery Brigade, Division West Public Affairs
GATESVILLE, Texas – Today’s classrooms are full of academics and seldom do teachers have enough time to focus on reading. Gatesville Primary school joined forces with their Fort Hood military neighbors and Volunteers in Partnership to launch “OTTER.”
“Our Time To Enjoy Reading” is a monthly reading program designed to refine students’ reading skills and comprehension.
“The volunteers fill a need,” said Scott Harper, Gatesville Primary School principal.
Ten soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 38lst Regiment, 479th Field Artillery, Division West, along with six soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 393rd Infantry Regiment, also with 479th, spent over an hour at the school. Teachers brought students to the library where they were paired with soldiers.
Together, they selected interesting books, found a place to sit, and read for 20-minute sessions. Nearly 60 students read more than 100 books with the volunteering soldiers.
“The second kid really had a blast when I read Shel Silverstein’s poem, ‘Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too,’ laughing and giggling and laying his head on my shoulder,” said Lt. Col. Scott Ward, commander of 2nd Battalion, 381st Regiment.
Three other soldiers were split among three different grade levels and engaged with students in their respective rooms. Sgt. 1st Class Dennis Ellis was placed in a special education class where he helped make a penguin with a student.
“I liked it so much, that I am planning on going back once a week,” said Ellis.
It was a blast, Ellis said.
“It was a great opportunity to have an impact in the community,” said Capt. William Brown, headquarters and headquarters detachment commander of 2nd Battalion, 381st Regiment. “They have been so supportive of our unit.”
The unit will return on Feb. 10 in an effort to encourage a love for continued reading.
| Date Taken: | 01.31.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 01.31.2014 14:32 |
| Story ID: | 119933 |
| Location: | GATESVILLE, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 33 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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