Love is in the air for Bessemer City Schools’ third graders, the love of literacy, that is. A new partnership with Amazon provided each elementary school and New Horizon Alternative Program with a literacy lab to feature all the tools they need to grow their reading and writing skills. The labs also serve as a way to inspire young students by featuring writing tools like gel pens, notebooks, and comfortable seating.
On this past Friday, BCS third graders welcomed 15-year-old best-selling author Nia Mya Reese. In 2016, Reese, now a Hoover High School student, wrote and published her first book, “How To Deal With And Care For Your Annoying Little Brother,” at only eight years old.
Soon after, she wrote and published “Bully At School: A Bully’s Perspective” and “The Sore Loser: (Don’t Be One!).”
Reese’s visit was made possible as part of the $25,000 Amazon grant. The young author said she was excited about her journey with nearly 300 third graders and loved the younger students’ enthusiasm for reading and writing.
Students like Amar Umrani, 9, connected with Reese’s story.
“I love reading. It was supportive,” said the Charles F. Hard Elementary School student. “We supported her. She has some good books that we read. I read the bullying book in second grade, and I liked the book.”
Another Local author, Tonya McKelvey, a former reading instructor, also participated in the event. McKelvey shared with the scholars the importance of reading and writing. While reflecting on this event McKelvey said, “Hopefully, other school districts will learn about it (Amazon Partnership and Author Visits). I think it will be a great, great outlet for other school districts because reading is the best thing they can do to help them get their grades up.”
