Reading brings together young and old

Some students at Lincoln-McKinley Primary School in Havre took a break from their regularly scheduled classes Monday, to read to residents at the Northern Montana Care Center.

Every other week Kim Tommerup, a second-grade teacher at Lincoln-McKinley who coordinates the program with care center staff, brings a group of second- and third-graders to read to elderly residents. For an hour and a half, the 18 second-graders who accompanied Tommerup, and the seniors awaiting their arrival, get to reach across the chasm of generations to share a story.

Ila McClenahan, the care center's activities director, said residents are eager to engage in activities that help others, especially children.

"It makes residents feel so good that they are able to do this for a child, to listen to them," McClenahan said, adding that when children read out loud it dramatically increases their cognitive abilities and, in the long run, makes them better readers.

She added that while some parents routinely read with their children, not all young readers have that advantage.

McClenahan came up with the idea for the activity about 10 years ago. Having worked at Devlin School, she reached out to teachers she used to work with and asked if they could bring some students up to the care center to read to seniors, some of whom McClenahan said are former teachers.

Some years the program lapsed, but for the most part McClenahan said it has continued.

At school, any second- or third-grader can sign up to take part in the program, as long as the student's teacher gives them permission to miss class that day. A group of between 19 and 23 students venture up to the center twice a month. The books are usually selected by the individual students themselves.

Karly Evans, a student teacher who assists Tommerup, said students look forward to the chance to visit with the residents.

"I think it helps the kids 'cause they get out into the community and see what real life is like and they get to share their smiles and their reading with the elderly," said Evans.

Monday the school bus pulled up to the main entrance. Tommerup and Evans helped the students off the bus, as McClenahan greeted them at the door. Once inside, all students sat down on the firm lobby furniture. After welcoming them, McClenahan explained what the care center was and why its residents live there.

Later, when she asked the students how many had been to the care center before, a majority raised their hands saying they had come either to visit a relative or attend a community event.

The students then ascended to the second floor, some by elevator, others up stairs. Down the hall they went before reaching the Ponderosa multi purpose room, where residents awaited their arrival with beaming smiles.

Soon students were paired with residents and for a half-hour students and seniors sat side by side and across from each other turning pages and pointing at words. After one small story or a few pages, some students would move to the next willing listener.

Others stayed with their older reading partner, such as Cody Birdtail, who sat reading to his great-grandmother Annabelle Thomas.

Among the small band of budding readers was 8-year-old Camille Nissen. The young girl said she had never read out loud to anyone ever before. She said she enjoyed reading to other people.

The students were then given parting gifts in small clear plastic bag, each bag containing a small book, a pencil and two other items.

But before they left, McClenahan revealed it was Camille's birthday.

All those in the multipurpose room - staffers, seniors, teachers and fellow students - burst into a rendition of Happy Birthday.

For many it was a day that might melt away like any other, but it will certainly be a public display of birthday celebration that young Camille is unlikely to forget, even when some day a young child is the one reading to her.