| Gary Berensen, Media Instructor at Mont Harmon |
At Mont Harmon Junior high books and breakfast go hand in hand. Every month Gary Berensen conducts a book talk at the junior high school but rather than a classroom the students meet in the library and are served pancakes and sausages.
Berensen is the library media teacher at Mont Harmon and feels the monthly Book Talk increases awareness of reading and books. “Kids get excited about the different authors and they want to learn more,” explained Berensen.
Last week about 25 students showed up at the library for the breakfast and learned about authors Lurlene McDaniel and Gary Paulsen. Both authors write their books in series and one often caters to the girls with titles like “I want to Love,” “Telling Christina Good-bye,” and “Last Wish.” While Paulsen’s work is often directed to the young male readers with titles like, “The Crossing,”, Brian’s winter,” and “Rifle and River.”
Savanah Cowdell, a student, talked about the McDaniel series and Berensen outlined the Paulsen series by explaining that the stories center around a young man’s adventures in Alaska, following a plane crash in a remote area of the state.
Called the Breakfast Book Club, the cooks for this past week’s event include the district Superintendent Dr. David Armstrong, Science teacher Pat Neal and Michelle Goldsmith, special education instructor.
Berensen explained that students who are not athletes are targeted to participate in the book club, thus giving another group of students recognition and support. The students leading the discussion get credits for their participation.
Next month the discussion will be centered around the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew.