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Teacher's reading session lures students, parents with snacks

Students at Arrowhead Elementary School aren't the only ones who benefit from the school's Milk & Cookie Nights.

The quarterly event has become popular with parents as well, with all ages flocking for the story and traditional bedtime treat.

Kindergarten teacher Jena Akard started holding the events last year. The first one drew 30 people; the most recent, held in late January, drew almost 80. Several come in their pajamas and fuzzy slippers.

Akard got the idea from a friend who runs a similar program for the Madison School District. With a large bilingual student population, Akard wanted to do more to get her students psyched about reading. She turned a simple story hour into a gathering by getting a local grocery store to donate a variety of cookies and milk, and picking a story to be read aloud in English and Spanish. Raffle prizes like dual language children's books, games and other toys are given to attendees.

"They are so excited to come. They talk about it in class," Akard says. "We wanted to promote reading and thought it would be fun to get the parents involved, too."

But Akard and fellow teacher Bronwyn Rubenstein quickly noticed that the session had a deeper impact, particularly with parents who did not speak English, well or at all.

"We wanted parents to feel comfortable being in a school setting and talking to teachers. It can be intimidating for some," Rubenstein says. "They are also more receptive to volunteering and being involved with their children's school."

Akard says that the inviting vibe also encourages parents to learn English along with their children, speaking it at home along with Spanish, or any of several foreign languages her students' parents speak.

Parent Isabel Rocha volunteers regularly and has brought her son Jesus, 12, Ernesto, 10, Sebastian, 6, every Milk & Cookie Night.

"It's good for parents to get used to reading to the kids," she said through Jesus, who translates.