SUNDERLAND — It’s been said the “Fourth R” of education is recess — after reading, ’riting and ’rithmetic.
A break from the academic grind can be cherished by youngsters, and researchers say it increases learning, reduces stress and helps keep children healthy. So a program would likely have to be pretty special for students to voluntarily forfeit that precious time. Sunderland Elementary School believes it has found two such programs in Girls Who Code and Guys Read.
Librarian Rachel Kidder facilitates both clubs and said each meets twice a month, with students giving up recess to attend. She explained Girls Who Code is the local chapter of a national organization of the same name founded by Reshma Saujani, who saw a gender disparity in Silicon Valley. Kidder said Girls Who Code aims to get more young women involved with computer science while also fostering friendships and demonstrating how to use technology for positive purposes. Guys Read is a lunchtime book club for boys in sixth grade.
The handful of girls at a club session last month tooled around with robots in the school’s library/media center. About five of the girls had gone to Gillette Stadium on Oct. 24 for the Massachusetts Computer Using Educators (MassCUE) conference in partnership with the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS). Club members presented their work in the student showcase and then spoke about their group’s work and demonstrated to educators the robots they learned to program. One of the challenges entailed having a robot go “trick-or-treating” at two haunted houses. Student Romy Leuchs-Curtis said her presentation skills improved greatly as a result of the public speaking.
Kidder said Guys Read started with two students who wanted to read “The Lord of the Rings.” There are now about 20 boys in the club.
“Their job is to share their love of reading and to share book recommendations amongst themselves and amongst the other students in school,” Kidder said, adding that it is a safe and constructive way for the students to learn about aspects of life they, as young people living in Franklin County, may not have experienced. “They really have an eclectic taste in books.”
The students said they also enjoy books on mythology.
While eating lunch, Diego Frazier talked about the book “Grenade,” McClellan Hill of the merits of “Rebound,” and multiple children said they enjoyed “Fast Food Nation.”
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.