Reading to learn and overcoming first day jitters

With Houston County school system’s campaign this year being literacy, local business Gottwals Books is helping to encourage students to read by providing all first graders and their teachers in Houston, Peach and Bibb counties with the book “First Day Jitters” by Julie Danneberg.

Houston County students returned to school Wednesday, and at Langston Road Elementary that afternoon, Shane Gottwals, the owner of Gottwals Books/The Walls of Books franchise, took the time to hand out some of the books to first grade teacher Casie Dougharty’s class.

Gottwals said every first grader and teacher in public and private schools in Houston, Peach and Bibb counties received a book. Also, all of Houston County administrators and teachers received a book at opening session.

Langston Road Elementary Principal Dr. Elgin Mayfield said the best part about receiving the books was that it was completely unsolicited.

“We had no idea it was coming,” he said. “Anytime somebody from the community is just so forward in giving, it’s amazing.”

Mayfield said in Houston County, the school system is very blessed that they get offers regularly from people on what they can do to help. However, he said Gottwals took that to another level by taking the initial step to give away free books.

“That’s somebody really stepping out on faith and doing what’s right and putting forth a good faith effort to be a good steward of the community,” Mayfield said.

Gottwals said about 8,292 “First Day Jitters” books were given away in Houston, Bibb and Peach counties. He noted the book is all about the first day of school.

Encouraging reading, he said, “It’s a great story for kids and adults alike.”

Gottwals and his wife, Abbey, founded Gottwals Books (www.gottwalsbooks.com) in 2007 in Warner Robins, which is a used and new bookstore carrying a wide range of genres for all age groups and interests.

Now 10 years in business with locations also in Macon, Byron, Perry and 13 franchise locations in Georgia, Washington D.C., Ohio, New Orleans, Kansas and South Carolina, Gottwals said their donation to the three middle Georgia school systems was something they wanted to do since he and his wife first started the business. He said they give back to the community with reading initiatives throughout the year, but they have never done anything on this level. But after 10 years, he said they now have the resources and storage capacity to take on such a task.

Gottwals said they chose first grade because this is the age where students are really starting to read on their own.

“It seemed like a great age to throw this at them and say take this home and let’s foster literacy in the community,” he said.

Mayfield said not only did first graders at Langston Road Elementary get their very own book, but they also had their very own “jitter juice.”

“Which is a juice that gets rid of the jitters,” he said with a laugh.

On the importance of reading, Mayfield said every piece of research they’ve read emphasizes so strongly the importance of being able to read and to be able to read fluently at an early age.

“Children who get to third grade who are not reading at a third grade level are significantly more likely to drop out of school and all of the things that come along with that,” he said. “All of that horrible negativity that comes along with that, all the way back when they’re 8 years old, it’s a predictor. The idea of having them reading by the time they hit the third grade is a very important thing.”

Mayfield noted, “You spend kindergarten, first and second grades learning to read so that by the time you start third grade, you’re reading to learn. If you’re still learning to read in third grade, you’re behind.”

Gottwals said there is so much adventure and beauty in reading.

“The kids have got to learn how to ignite that in their own brains,” he said.

By putting a book in the hands of a child, Gottwals said they know that it’s just one more motivation for them to see the value of reading, which he says the parents will get to see that spark in their child and hopefully continue that growth in their home.

HHJ News