Chester Elementary welcomes professional author for literacy lessons

Students at Chester Elementary School recently had the chance to engage in some unique literacy learning, when they enthusiastically welcomed professional author, Eric Luper, to their school!

Best known for his popular 7-book "Key Hunter" series for young readers, Mr. Luper brought his passion for storytelling to the elementary school, engaging students across all grade levels in an exploration and celebration of reading and writing. The day was organized by third-grade teacher Amy Carola and was the culmination of months of preparation.

In the weeks leading up to Mr. Luper’s visit, many teachers read the author’s books aloud to their classes to spark excitement. According to the students themselves, it seems the activity not only piqued students’ interest in reading but created more than a few new Key Hunter fans! When Mr. Luper arrived on March 5, he met with students during three dynamic classroom presentations, sharing his journey to becoming an author, the ins and outs of book publishing, and answering thoughtful questions from eager young readers.

Two highlights of the day were a book signing, where students could have Mr. Luper inscribe their copies of his books, and a special author luncheon, where select students had the rare opportunity to enjoy lunch with Mr. Luper. To earn their spot at the table, the students had to write a persuasive essay explaining why they should be chosen. In their letters, they shared their love of reading, some of the questions they hoped to ask Mr. Luper, and reflected on some of their own literacy achievements and creative efforts. 

Congratulations to Phoebe Zhang, Ella Moran, Zoe Gossai, Japneet Grang, Parker Reed, Alexander Compres, Grace Bakonyi, Channing Campbell, Ka’Mya Johnson, Milan Ibocko, Adriana Gennaro, and Damian Flores Lopez for being selected!

Throughout the day, Mr. Luper encouraged all students to embrace their creativity, emphasizing that a love of reading and writing lays the foundation for becoming strong writers. 

Ms. Carola said, "I hope that Mr. Luper's presentation encourages the students at CES to either pick up a book and read, pick up a pencil and write, or hopefully both!"

Connecting students with a professional author and celebrating their achievements made for a meaningful opportunity that inspired curiosity while it supported academic growth. This was a very special event, nicely aligned with Chester’s objectives to foster a lifelong love of learning, promote literacy, and empower students to express themselves creatively.

Thank you to Mr. Luper for sharing his time and knowledge with us!