Guests make reading fun in Grosse Pointe
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March is Reading Month
Guest readers, special events help students celebrate reading
GROSSE POINTE WOODS – State Rep. Tim Bledsoe is an experienced public speaker.
But he seemed a little nervous as he sat before 21 students in Heather Halpin’s elementary classroom on Monday in Grosse Pointe Woods.
“I’ve never done this before,” said Bledsoe, a veteran college professor-turned-lawmaker invited to Defer Elementary School to read to second- and third-graders. March is widely recognized in schools as National Reading Month; many schools invite special guest readers or have other activities to celebrate.
“I have not read to children since my 18-year-old daughter was your age,” Bledsoe said, who brought along a copy of “The Legend of Sleeping Bear” to read to the students. The book recounts the legend of a mother bear and her two cubs who swam across Lake Michigan to escape a Wisconsin fire. Tragically, the mother comes ashore in northern Michigan, but her cubs never do, instead turning into islands.
For about 15 minutes, Halpin’s students intently listened to the story. Bledsoe sat in a classroom rocking chair in front of a “Welcome Representative Bledsoe” banner. When he finished reading, Bledsoe offered to answer students questions.
“Is the story true?” a boy asked.
Another boy said he doubted if the story was true because “bears can’t talk.”
The children asked several questions about Bledsoe’s job as a state representative. A Democrat from Grosse Pointe, Bledsoe answered everything from “Where do you stay in Lansing?” to “What do you like to do for fun?” to “What’s your salary, or is it kind of personal?”
Updated: May 13, 2009 8:23 AM
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