Students in Yolanda Harrell’s second-grade class at Gideons Elementary School dressed up as pirates for Halloween to highlight the book “How I Became a Pirate,” which they read in class. The faculty and staff at Charles L. Gideons Elementary School used Halloween to help make learning to read fun, as last week nearly every student, teacher and administrator dressed up as a character from a book they just read in class. “One of our goals is increasing our Lexile levels, and so we thought this would be a good way to motivate the students,” Gideons Principal Jesse Berger said. “We’re using all of our instructional strategies, and utilizing phonics as well as our literacy programs like Just Words and Fundations.” Gideons Elementary Principal Jesse Berger (far left), along with students, staff and administrators at the school, all dressed up for Halloween like characters from books they have read this year. Berger said he and his staff plan on building similar activities around other holidays during the school year as well. “We’re working on helping all of our students build their fluency skills,” he said, “but we want to make it fun for them, too.” Gideons Elementary School Reading Specialist Daphne Coleman, Ed.D., dressed up like Ruby Bridges from the book “The Story of Ruby Bridges.” Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email Print (Opens in new window) Print More Share on X (Opens in new window) X Like this:Like Loading… Discover more from APS Today Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe Post navigation Grady Clinches First Region Title Since 2010; 23 Make Class AA-Region 6 Softball Team Weekend Sports Roundup: Mays, KAC Play for Region Championships; 10 APS Cross Country Teams Advance to State; KIPP Vision, Bunche MS Compete for APS Middle School Football Title