Who: The children of Peru Primary have benefitted from the kindergarten STRETCH Reading Plan since 2004.  This plan was developed by Donna Eisele and May LaValley, Reading Specialists in the primary building, and funded through a grant from United Way and supplemented by the Peru Central School District. 

What:   The STRETCH Reading Plan is designed to stretch beginning reading practice from school to your home.  Each blue bag contains ten books of  various reading levels and genres.  Each book has a sticker on the cover indicating the level and type of book.  Leveled books are in use throughout the primary grades.  The A level, which is the easiest, is often one word or one line per page.  The use of leveled books is especially helpful for parents, students and teachers as they provide a guide to follow a child’s reading development.  Our students are  typically reading C level books at the end of their kindergarten year!

Where: Doing the STRETCH Plan is very easy.  It is designed to be about 5-8 minutes daily.  Since the books are provided, it is simply sitting down with your child and reading together.  You can read one or several books in a sitting depending upon the mood of your child. 

When: These books are available to you the summer prior to kindergarten and throughout the kindergarten school year for beginning reading practice.  In the summer months you will trade your bag at the Primary Office.  The office staff will sign out a new bag for you during their work hours.  If you are not sure if the office is open, please call ahead (643-6100).  In September children will be able to bring their blue bags back and forth in their backpacks to trade .  The exchanging of bags will be done during the school day.

Why:   It is our sincere hope that the STRETCH Reading Plan helps make early reading practice at home easier and more enjoyable for both child and parent.  Please enjoy this special time with your child, it really does make a big difference!

If you have any questions concerning the STRETCH Blue Bag Program, please call 643-6100.