Published: May 21, 2008 08:47 am      

Already reading, Highland Park preschoolers hit the books

The better the reader, the easier school will be.

One class of Highland Park Elementary School pre-kindergarten students are going to have it a little easier than others, now that they can read.

According to their teacher, Sadoka Chandler, by reading, it doesn’t mean they can read anything. But all of them can read a sentence or two and a few of them are finishing books at their level.

“It surprises us because we see them reading on the carpet,” she said.

Chandler, with the help of reading specialists Kari Baker and Karen Ruminer and pre-kindergarten teaching assistant Teri Ackerman, got sentences from LittleGiraffes.com which she had the students read in class and then take home. When a student would master a sentence, they would get to read it to the school’s principal and assistant principal so they would be recognized for their hard work.

Principal Dr. Donna Cloud and the rest of the school administration have played a big part in the pre-kindergarten class’ success, she said.

“I love teaching here. We have such a supportive administration. They allow use to be creative and push our students a little more,” Chandler said.

The pre-kindergarten teacher said she began as a second-grade teacher but has found she loves teaching at any level.

“I just absolutely fell in love with it,” she said.

Chandler attended Highland Park Elementary School as a child and graduated from Carl Albert High School. She has two children who attend Ridgecrest Elementary School.

Chandler has 17 students in the morning and 20 in the afternoon. She said that they should really receive the credit.

“You know what, it’s what they’re doing,” she said.