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OLDTOWN – When fierce winds swept through the region last week, forcing schools to close for the day, most students welcomed the unexpected break with video games, television or extra sleep.
But for one second grader, the day off turned into something quieter – and perhaps more meaningful.
Curled up on the chair with a blanket, pillow and a book nearly as big as his hands, August Carlson, 7, spent the blustery morning reading while tree branches swayed wildly outside his window.
“I was reading A to Z Mysteries that I got from my grandma’s house; it’s an exciting book that I can’t stop reading,” he said.
August is a student in Nancy Gregory’s second grade class, where reading still looks much like it did decades ago: students holding real books, turning real pages and immersing themselves in rich text.
While many classrooms are rapidly incorporating digital programs, tablets and adaptive learning apps, Gregory prefers a more traditional approach.
“I believe strong readers are built through meaningful exposure to language and stories,” Gregory said. “Technology can be helpful, but it shouldn’t replace time spent reading real books and thinking deeply about what’s on the page.”
In the back of Gregory’s classroom are shelves lined with containers of various genres, including novels, biographies, poetry and informational texts. Students spend significant time reading stories out of their Open Court textbook, discussing what they read with classmates, making connections to other stories or applying what they read to the real world.
According to Gregory, the results have been encouraging, with half of her class already reading well above grade level.
Still, the conversation about technology in education continues across the district.
Principal Loretta Glazier said the goal is not to eliminate technology but to find the right balance between digital tools and traditional learning experiences.
“We want students to be thoughtful readers and strong thinkers,” Glazier said. “There’s tremendous value in immersing students in rich textbooks that challenge their vocabulary, imagination, and comprehension.”
At the same time, Glazier acknowledges that technology plays an important role in today’s schools, particularly when preparing students for state assessments and navigating digital platforms they will encounter later in their education.
“Our responsibility is to prepare students for the world they live in,” Glazier said.
“Technology certainly has a place, especially when students need to practice skills they’ll use during online assessments. But we also want to ensure it doesn’t replace the deep learning that happens when students sit down with their teacher and classmates and discuss great stories.”
For August, the debate between screens and pages didn’t matter much on the windy day off from school. With the power flickering occasionally and the wind rattling the windows, he simply turned another page.
Outside, the storm continued to howl.
Inside, a young reader was lost in a story.
