Pomona celebrates reading with ‘Green Eggs and Ham’
The first- and second-graders in Mrs. Reesberg’s class at Pomona Elementary were treated with a culinary extravaganza Tuesday morning in honor of “Read Across America” day, which is celebrated in conjunction with Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
“I don’t know if I’m going to like that — it looks like poison,” shouted one student as Reesberg dropped green food coloring into a pan of scrambled eggs.
“I like you guys pretty well so don’t worry, I won’t poison you,” Reesberg said, as the students went on to discuss the multiple ways in which a teacher could indeed poison her students.
The kids wore their fashionably funky pajamas while lounging on their favorite blankets and pillows brought from home. Their one morning assignment: read as many books by Dr. Seuss as possible.
Connor Gillaspie, 7, demonstrated how he could read “Green Eggs and Ham” with his eyes closed. Other Seuss books he could read with his eyes open included “Great Day For Up,” “I’m Not Going To Get Up Today,” and “A Fish Out of Water.”
Reesberg lounged in a black bean bag while wearing her cow-print pajamas and read “Green Eggs and Ham” out loud to the students, with her eyes open. The students chimed in with loud “Sam I Am’s.”
Then Reesberg fried four dozen green eggs and ham slices for the students. She added a little shredded cheddar cheese just make sure they tasted good.
“I like them because since they’re green they still taste the same,” Gillaspie said after taking a big bite.
Reesberg asked the class what Sam would say of her green eggs and ham creation. “I will eat them on a train, or in our class, and I’d share them with my family,” one student said much to the entertainment of everyone.
Read-Across-America Day is a program sponsored by the National Education Association. This is its eighth year of encouraging reading and fun school activities. The NEA believes that reading should be an integral part of a child’s everyday life and encourages parents and teachers to make time to read together.