Briceville school offers kids incentives to read

Electronic games, basketballs, dolls and even a giant blow-up unicorn filled the stage at Briceville School as educators kicked off their annual reading incentive program.

They call it Engineering Better Readers.

Cheers filled the room as teachers drew the curtain to reveal the prizes children can earn by reading books and showing some progress in reading comprehension.

The special guest for the program, before the prizes were revealed, was the character General Henry Knox. The Revolutionary War engineer working for George Washington told the audience that he also owned a book store and loved reading books about the military.

In the small school of 127 students from Kindergarten through 5th Grade, teachers look forward to the annual program to help them make reading more appealing to their students.

Behind the program are Carol Moore and Barry Thacker of Schnabel Engineering and the Coal Creek Watershed Foundation. The school's principal and teachers say they could not have such a program without the grassroots community support.

3rd Grader Seth Taylor showed off the Magic Tree House book he'd been reading.

When asked what he liked best, he answered, "My favorite is fiction books."

1st Grader Malachi Barnette said he likes books about animals.

"My favorite book is the 'Rattlesnake Looks for Food'," said Malachi.

The students are getting the message that they need reading to succeed in school and in life.

1st Grader Carson Alley said this about books helping him, "If you didn't know something, you learn a new word."