Thanks to a generous grant from former school employees, students in Mrs. Wilsdon’s second grade class at Columbia River Gorge Elementary School receive two new weekly reading periodicals: Time for Kids and Scholastic News. Their teacher, Doreen Wilsdon, shared that students are reading these magazines together and independently.
Wilsdon said, “My students are super excited when the new editions arrive and are eager to find out what is happening in their world.” She added, “The magazines are written specifically for students at their independent reading level and introduce important academic vocabulary. They contain informational text on topics students are naturally curious about. We are able to address so many learning standards including comprehension, author’s point of view, asking and answering questions from our reading, as well as standards in our science and social studies units.”
These classroom materials supplement the reading materials that students are able to access each week through the school library, providing extra opportunities for students to explore their interest while developing their reading skills.
Wilsdon added, “Our recent edition featured the article “Do Insects Think?” which tied in beautifully with our district’s CKLA reading curriculum unit on insects. The article discusses how Charles Henry Turner, a teacher and scientist, conducted investigations to find out if insects could tell time and if cockroaches and wasps could find their way home from a maze! Bringing authentic learning into our classroom is so important, and receiving this grant has allowed us to do that.”
Students get to explore topics like animals and habitats, science, technology, engineering, mathematics and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to do one’s best in school.
Columbia River Gorge Elementary Principal Hannah Hartman noted that, “Promoting reading engagement and skill development is critical to our school improvement and to setting our students up for success. Research shows that having on grade level reading skills by the end of third grade is critical for future academic success, and this grant helps support reading development and the love of reading we strive for at CRGE”
Each year Clark County retired teachers and classified staff who are part of the Clark County unit of the Washington State School Retirees Association (WSSRA) support the exciting things happening in public education with classroom grants and student scholarships.
Wilsdon said, “Students are already looking forward to reading the summer edition!”
This year, these Clark County retired educators gave $400 grants to twenty teachers and librarians in Washougal, Vancouver, and Cascadia Tech Academy. In 2025-26, WSSRA will expand to offer grants as well as student scholarships in Camas and Evergreen schools and will expand further in 2026-27 to opportunities for Hockinson, Ridgefield and La Center schools.
