Young readers on Sisters radio

When Joni Stengel, first-grade teacher at Sisters Elementary School (SES), asked her class who would like to be the next student to read a book to his or her peers on the radio, "almost all of them raised their hands."

Their enthusiasm comes from their experiences last March when this enriching opportunity to encourage young readers was launched. Michael Richards, general manager of KZSO radio in Sisters, encouraged Stengel and her class to help him create Sisters Student Reading Radio, a program featuring first-grade students reading books chosen by the Rotary Club's Literacy Project.

Every year, Rotary purchases books and backpacks for all first-graders at SES, Sisters Christian Academy, Tumalo Elementary and Black Butte School, according to Kathryn Godsiff, president of Sisters Rotary. In March, two students read "Flat Stanley," by Jeff Brown, and the newest selection starting this week is "Little Bear's Friend," by Else Holmelund Minarik, read by Madison Haney. The next reader is already rehearsing to record "Green Eggs and Ham," by Dr. Seuss.

Students come to the KZSO broadcast studio at Sisters Art Works on Adams Avenue to record their books under the guidance of Rick Olson, KZSO program director.

"My goal," Olson says, "is to introduce the kids to broadcast radio and to help them feel comfortable speaking into a microphone for the first time. It couldn't be more fun!"

Starting this week, six- to seven-minute segments will be broadcast on KZSO 94.9 LP-FM at about 8:05 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and repeated those nights at about 7 p.m. coinciding with study/reading time at home.

"We are working on the web site, KZSO.org," Olson said, "and will have podcasts of all recorded books available on demand in the next month or so."

"I hope parents will remember to tune in and listen along with their young readers," Stengel said. "The more opportunities that children have to read or listen to stories, the better readers and eager learners they will become."

Olson wants to make sure the station is available to the community in ways no other station has undertaken before.

"We need peoples' involvement and participation to continue Sisters Student Reading Radio over the summer, and to create innovative and stimulating programming to engage the community," he says.

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