Muffins with Mom event promotes reading at Lowell

In an effort to promote reading, Lowell Elementary School hosted 468 students, moms and other family members this past week during its Muffins with Moms event.

Moms, grandmas, aunts and even a few dads joined their students before school Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, March 10-12, for muffins, juice, coffee and — of course — some reading.

“We’re trying to get as many books in kids’ hands as possible,” reading interventionist Kathryn McAllister said on the phone after Thursday’s event. “A lot of kids don’t get to the public library, and this is just a way for them to build up.”

Each student who participated during the week got to choose a book to keep, and each day three students’ names were drawn from a raffle for sling bags with a hardcover book, popcorn and a cup with hot chocolate.

Students and parents also watched a short video about the importance of reading, and parents learned what kinds of conversations they can have with their kids to promote reading and reading comprehension.

“Basically, they’re here, they’re reading, they’re chatting with other parents and having something to eat, and we’re pushing books,” McAllister said.

Lowell’s Muffins with Moms event started about 10 years ago. A few years in the school decided to alternate between that event and Donuts with Dudes, geared toward dads, grandpas and other male figures in students’ lives.

“The dads were feeling left out, and our dads are phenomenal at turning out for this,” McAllister said. “And we get more dads than we do moms. It’s really cool to see.”

Of course, all parents and guardians are welcome at any of the events.

Other reading initiatives throughout the year at Lowell include a monthly book lottery, when one student in each classroom gets a free book. Each teacher gets a free book for their class every month, too.

Every student also gets a book during the school’s yearly Christmas Extravaganza.

“Our goal is just to get them reading, build up their own library at home, have parents have an idea of just ways to talk about books just to facilitate a deeper understanding of the book,” McAllister said.

THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa .

1/3: Addie and her mom, Katie Sawyer, have breakfast Thursday, March 12, at the Muffins with Mom reading event at Lowell Elementary School. This event was divided into three sections over three days, with Thursday's attendance at 190 parents and students. Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

2/3: Lowell second graders Eleanor Schiller (left) and Rosalie Flynn look through the selection of books Thursday, March 12, at the Muffins with Mom event in the school gymnasium. Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

3/3: Lowell students browse through books at the Muffins with Mom reading event Thursday, March 12, in the gymnasium of the school. Each student was able to pick out a book to take home after Thursday's event. Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch