Sierra Mountain Times

Sometimes, you just need to give the kids a little incentive! In January, Becky Taylor’s 2nd grade class at Mother Lode Christian School (in Tuolumne) created Betty the Bookworm, on a wall, up near the ceiling. Each time a student read out loud for 20 minutes, a small segment of Betty (approximately three inches long) was colored in. “I went to a teaching conference in October where a gentleman was talking about the benefit of students reading out loud, and how it helped them to become better speakers and better writers later on” Revealed Becky.

“Because he emphasized that so much, I wanted MY students to read out loud! I wanted to give them some kind of a challenge, and I knew I wanted to donate my hair (to Locks of Love) anyway. In high school,” Becky recalled, “I had teachers who would say, ‘if you all get an A on this test, I’ll shave my beard, or I’ll dye my hair blue,’ or whatever, and that really motivated me – and my classmates!  So, I told my students about Locks of Love; that it helps people with cancer.” (The organization creates human hair wigs for those who’ve lost their own hair during chemotherapy.) Her challenge: complete Betty the Bookworm, and teacher Becky would have her haircut! So her kids read…and read…and read – out loud! And they made Betty the Bookworm grow and grow – until finally, it extended all the way around the classroom! On May 26th, Betty the Bookworm was completed! On June 2nd, a school assembly was called and teacher Becky submitted to a haircut! Then next day, teacher Becky, sporting her new hairstyle, posed with her class–the ones she gives all the credit to! Her students are, from left to right, top row: Bella Patterson, Rebecca Glazier, Joelle Ortmann, Addie Riggs, Blanca Nieves, Macey Mitchell and Erica Dubner. Front row: Tyler Zertuche, Tres Machado, Ethan Van Fossen, Coleton Betzler, Nathaniel Nye, and Mathew Vetesy. Good work, kids!