Schools

Waukee District Boasts Iowa Reading Teacher of the Year

Walnut Hills Elementary media specialist Becky Pashek has been chosen the state's reading teacher of the year.

The Iowa Reading Association has chosen Becky Pashek, Walnut Hills Elementary Media Specialist as the recipient of the Iowa Reading Teacher of the Year Award, according to the Waukee school district.

She will be honored on June 25 at a banquet during the state reading conference held in Ames. Pashek was nominated by the Dallas County Reading Council and selected at the state level.

Pashek answered a few questions about her job for Patch.

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Q. How long have you worked in the Waukee school district and what is your primary role at Walnut Hills?

A. This is my 20th year in the Waukee School District. I am the teacher librarian at Walnut Hills Elementary.

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Q. How do you instill a love of reading in children?

A. I love to read, so I share my love of reading with my students in many ways. I’ve created a welcoming and inviting reading environment in the library by designing reading nooks and crannies complete with stuffed animal friends and reading characters with whom the students can cuddle … to create an atmosphere where they can fall in love with books!

Over the years, I’ve dressed up as storybook characters and celebrated the excitement of reading by developing themes in the library. During classes we have author studies, which create interest when students discover an author they love.

I am so fortunate to have such a great job where I can give book talks to get students excited about reading! I give book talks on all of the Iowa Children Choice Award books annually. The third- through fifth-graders are able to read these books and vote for their favorite one.

Also, our teachers do a great job using the library to help students find "just right" books. Lyndsay Marron, our principal, and PTO have been very supportive in helping to get authors visit our school, which inspires both reading and writing.

Q. Are children reading more or less in this digital age?

A. I feel like students are reading even more today. It may look different since some of them are reading on digital devices, but they are reading!  

Q. Where do Waukee students rank on their reading skills and how can they be improved?

A. Waukee is implementing an information literacy curriculum next year, which I am very excited about. Our hope is that it will improve our reading skills even more.

As far as how students can continue to improve their reading skills…READ!   Adults should read with kids, adults should model their love and passion for reading with kids, kids should be able to read to adults.   

Q. What are your three favorite books to read for fun?

A. "Owl Babies" by Martin Waddell using finger puppets for the baby owls, "Apollo" by Caroline Grégoire, where I show the students a magic trick (my one and only), and "Mystery Mansion" by Michael Garland where students find where Aunt Jeanne is hiding and solve the mystery.


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