Students spend morning reading to school kids

An African American Literature and Cultural Pluralism class is taking a
different approach to promoting the significance of Black History
Month.

Fourteen CMU students spent Monday morning at Sacred Heart Academy
reading to elementary school children to help them understand the
importance of the month that celebrates black culture.

The students went to the center, located 302 S. Kinney St., and
chose a book related to diversity and discussed the topic after.

Laretta Henderson, assistant English language and literature
professor, set up the program.

“I thought it would be a great way to encourage Sacred Heart Academy
to use African American children’s literature,” Henderson said. “I
thought it would be a great way to get teachers to use African American
literature in the classroom.”

Owosso senior Lindsay Gregoricka was one of the students who went to
the academy.

She read a book titled “The Other Side,” a story about a black girl
and a white girl who are friends, to first graders.

“I was excited because we had been learning about presenting
multicultural issues in class, so I was excited to apply my knowledge
in a classroom situation,” Gregoricka said. “I expected the kids to be
engaged in the lesson and Black History Month and to apply what they
were learning to their own lives.”

Gregoricka chose the book because she said it was appropriate for
first graders and it followed the request of the teacher.

“I was really happy with the results because the kids were really
engaged in conversation about the book and willing to discuss events
that happened in their own lives dealing with multicultural issues,”
Gregoricka said. “I was really excited that the kids were responsive to
the lesson and I was able to discuss Black History Month with them and
give them a little knowledge on how important is it to learn about
Black History Month.”

Menominee senior Amber Twork also read to first graders. She read
“My Brother Martin” by Christine King Farris.

“I am doing this reading because I like to be involved with
elementary schools as much as I can,” Twork said. “When an opportunity
like this comes along, I don’t like to pass it up.”

Many of the students who participated are majoring in elementary
education, and they said this was beneficial to their career.

“I want to be an elementary teacher, so it’s always exiting to
practice my skills with kids,” Gregoricka said. “I’ve learned that it’s
important to express multicultural issues at an early age to decrease
any discrimination that might occur in the classroom.”

Henderson said she hopes the students will continue to use African
American literature in their life and will continue to volunteer.

“I’m hoping those students will purchase African American literature
for their own children, nieces and nephews,” Henderson said.