Mickey Starling
reporter3@greenepublishing.com
On Friday, Jan. 27, Rick Patrick, a reporter with Greene Publishing, Inc. and an amateur actor, helped cap off Florida Literacy Week by volunteering to read for the first-grade class of Carie Diepersloot, the Teacher of the Year for Madison County Central Elementary School. Patrick entertained the youngsters with a dramatic interpretation of the Dr. Seuss classic, “Green Eggs and Ham.”
“I don't know who enjoyed the experience more, the kids or myself,” said Patrick. “I do hope I have the opportunity to visit this class, and maybe read to other classes, again.”
“When I was young and first starting to learn to read, my father would not allow me to read in a flat 'monotone' voice,” Patrick added. “I had to put whatever inflection or emotion the words called for in my voice. This helped me to learn to feel whatever emotion the author was conveying. This also sparked my path to enjoying and learning drama and acting. If I can help spark that same sort of interest in words and the emotions they can communicate in other young minds, then I am thrilled to do that. The book 'Green Eggs and Ham' offers a fun opportunity to accomplish that.”
“We are happy to have 'Mr. Rick' going to read to classes,” said Cheltsie Holbrook, Manager at Greene Publishing, Inc. “We are happy to do what we can to foster a love of reading in young people. After all, those same young people may grow up to read newspapers and magazines someday,” Holbrook added with a chuckle.
Patrick encourages anyone who may have the time and opportunity to read to a class to do so. “The students seem to enjoy it, and I promise you will have a good time as well,” said Patrick. To volunteer to read to a class, simply contact one of the schools in the Madison County School District.