The Big Read

Recently, the Belleville Elementary School participated in the Big Read, part of Money Smart Week, along with Mr. Farrar's High School Marketing class. The Big Read took place on March 28, 2016, and it introduced the idea of saving money to our elementary students. Through generous donations from the community, and a few special guests, The Big Read made learning the fundamentals of money fun and exciting.
The day began with all the elementary kids gathered to listen to Mrs. Yoder, the School District of Belleville Superintendent, read the book Start Saving, Henry! by Nancy Carlson. Throughout the book, Henry had to learn the value of saving his money so he could buy the toy he so badly wanted. Students from Mr. Farrar's class assisted Mrs. Yoder by projecting the book onto the wall, while two others acted out the pages. Bill Wilcox, from the CBM Credit Education Foundation, Inc., generously donated a copy of Start Saving, Henry! to each of the elementary students to keep as their own.
Also as part of the Big Read, the class of 25 marketing students traveled down to the Elementary School and split into groups of two to three to present age appropriate lessons about money and saving money. The lessons took place around the school in the classrooms and each ran for close to half an hour. These presenters not only developed the lessons, but also designed all the worksheets and handouts that accompanied the lesson. Lessons included recognizing the significance of saving coins, matching currency to its worth, and showing how to save for specific purchases.
The School District of Belleville also welcomed a couple very special guests to take part in the Big Read festivities. The State of Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions Secretary, Lon E. Roberts, along with Assistant Deputy Secretary, Alex Ignatowski, came to support Belleville and the mission of Money Smart Week. They visited several classrooms and spoke with students about the responsible use of money.
A few other community organizations also helped make the Big Read a special day for our students. UB&T Bank and Francois Ford teamed up to get kids started saving. UB&T Bank donated a piggy bank to each student and Francois Ford got each student started saving with some starter money. The New Glarus and Sugar River Banks also provided students with an activity book that will support them in their learning about saving.
As a community, Belleville organizations and schools came together to create a fun and exciting learning experience. The success of the Big Read cannot be given to one person or group. However, it belongs to the collaborative efforts of teachers, students, and community organizations.