Reading Camp at Sedalia 200 provides opportunities for student success

There really isn’t a mystery to it — if you engage and encourage a child to read, a lifelong passion can develop.

Students in Sheri Kemp’s reading camp class at Heber Hunt Elementary are developing that passion this summer as they use their deductive and reasoning skills to solve reading mysteries.

“We all use the same curriculum that’s used during the school year but once we know what theme we each want to use, we fit in as many of the reading objectives as we can to try to enhance and deepen what was taught during the school year,” Kemp said. “For example during this mystery theme the students are reading mysteries, working on skills such as vocabulary, making inferences, drawing conclusions, cause and effect, critical/logical thinking, character traits — the list could go on and on.

“We also try to squeeze in some math, social studies, STEM and science,” she added. “The mystery theme is a great one for having many ways to incorporate all subjects.”

While students in the upper grades are doing a mystery/game theme, the lower grades are doing a theme called “Oceans of Fun.”

According to Kemp, each teacher can pick whatever them they would like, which offers a great deal of variety for both the students and teacher.

“Summer reading camp is a blast,” Kemp said enthusiastically. “It’s fun getting to know the kids and having more creative freedom to do many of the cool things we love to do that we can’t get the time to do during the fast pace of the school year.

“Also, if we are into something that’s caught their attention, we can spend as much time on it as we wish,” she added.

Something that has definitely caught the attention of her students is the game element to the class.

“During the game portion of our theme, I’m teaching the students games they don’t usually play like pool noodle freeze tag and card games like King’s Corner,” Kemp explained. “I like teaching them card games because I remember spending many summers with my friends passing the time playing cards.

“Many of my students have never played cards, don’t know the vocabulary, and aren’t familiar with the norms of it such as how to shuffle and how to deal correctly,” she added. “After they crack a case later this week we will be working on a Digital Escape activity on our computers that is similar to the popular ‘Escape Rooms’ that have popped up all over.”

By mixing both traditional pastime activities with more modern ones, Kemp is finding her students are fostering a growth mindset and perseverance.

“There are so many benefits to the program,” Kemp said. “Students are deepening their knowledge in so many areas including all the ones I mentioned already.

“We find that those who attend reading camp start the school year without having lost as much learning ground as those who don’t attend,” she added. “The kids get to see each other and have that social time they miss during the summer. It gets them off the couch and moving and most importantly — it’s fun.”

Some schools in the Sedalia School District 200 have room for more students in reading camp. While transportation is not provided, students do receive free breakfast and lunch. Camp is from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday and will conclude July 28.

Interested parents should contact their child’s school or call the central office at 829-6450 for more information.

Using more than just his sense of sight, Catrel Books uses his sense of smell to try to find out the object in the “mystery box” during reading camp Monday morning at Heber Hunt Elementary. The students were told they could shake the box, smell it, and use all of their senses with the exception of taste to try to solve the clues of what was hidden in the box. Eventually, after consulting with their partners, all of the students solved the mystery. The box contained a flashlight.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_tsd071117readingcamp-1.jpgUsing more than just his sense of sight, Catrel Books uses his sense of smell to try to find out the object in the “mystery box” during reading camp Monday morning at Heber Hunt Elementary. The students were told they could shake the box, smell it, and use all of their senses with the exception of taste to try to solve the clues of what was hidden in the box. Eventually, after consulting with their partners, all of the students solved the mystery. The box contained a flashlight.

Marillassa Mead leans in to hear the thoughts of her fellow reading detective Anna Walker at reading camp Monday morning at Heber Hunt Elementary. Teacher Sheri Kemp developed a curriculum for her students on the theme of “mysteries.” Mead and Walker were working to unwrap the clues to what the secret object in the “Mystery Box” was for the day.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_tsd071117readingcamp-2.jpgMarillassa Mead leans in to hear the thoughts of her fellow reading detective Anna Walker at reading camp Monday morning at Heber Hunt Elementary. Teacher Sheri Kemp developed a curriculum for her students on the theme of “mysteries.” Mead and Walker were working to unwrap the clues to what the secret object in the “Mystery Box” was for the day.

Madilynn Clavier wears her detective hat as she works at her computer Monday morning during a session of reading camp at Heber Hunt Elementary. Incoming Smith-Cotton freshman Olivia Kemp was watching the young detective as she went about her task, helping to answer any questions Clavier may have. Kemp, the daughter of instructor Sheri Kemp, was volunteering at the program as a way to earn her A+ hours.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_tsd071117readingcamp-3.jpgMadilynn Clavier wears her detective hat as she works at her computer Monday morning during a session of reading camp at Heber Hunt Elementary. Incoming Smith-Cotton freshman Olivia Kemp was watching the young detective as she went about her task, helping to answer any questions Clavier may have. Kemp, the daughter of instructor Sheri Kemp, was volunteering at the program as a way to earn her A+ hours.

Juan Ubaldo concentrates on his reading program Monday morning during a session of reading camp at Heber Hunt Elementary. Ubaldo was one of eight students in Sheri Kemp’s class who spent the morning using their deductive reasoning to solve clues about the stories they were reading.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_tsd071117readingcamp-4.jpgJuan Ubaldo concentrates on his reading program Monday morning during a session of reading camp at Heber Hunt Elementary. Ubaldo was one of eight students in Sheri Kemp’s class who spent the morning using their deductive reasoning to solve clues about the stories they were reading.

Although reading camp began July 5, Monday was the first day of class for Elizabeth Woolery at Heber Hunt’s reading camp. Woolery was posing for her official detective photo complete with her fedora, trench coat, badge and magnifying glass. Students in Sheri Kemp’s class have been focusing on mysteries during their class time. Reading camp continues until July 28.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_tsd071116reading-camp5.jpgAlthough reading camp began July 5, Monday was the first day of class for Elizabeth Woolery at Heber Hunt’s reading camp. Woolery was posing for her official detective photo complete with her fedora, trench coat, badge and magnifying glass. Students in Sheri Kemp’s class have been focusing on mysteries during their class time. Reading camp continues until July 28.