AR-News: (NC) Story glorifying Iditarod

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Sled dogs providing motivation for students
By Clarke Morrison, Staff WriterMarch 11, 2004 11:08 p.m.
ASHEVILLE - As sled dogs dash across Alaska's frozen landscape in the 
Iditarod, the kids at Vance Elementary are racing through books in the Iditaread.
But it's more than just a play on words. The exercise is designed to spark 
enthusiasm for reading while incorporating lessons in math, geography and social 
studies.
The students are attempting to read 1,100 books, one for each mile of the 
race from Anchorage to Nome, over the course of the three-week contest.
Teachers are "mushers" encouraging their students to read. And for each 
completed book students get their names on a paper Siberian husky displayed in the 
hallway. Twice a day the class in each grade level that has read the most 
books is announced over the loudspeaker, along with the sled team leading the 
actual Iditarod.
Classes are studying Alaska and its wildlife. And in the cafeteria, the 
students are feasting on delicacies like "moose burgers," "Alaska fries" and "polar 
pears."
It's the integrated approach to learning and tying it in to current events in 
a fun way that makes it so successful, Vance Principal Cynthia Sellinger said.
"I think it's a great motivator for children to read, to grab and keep their 
attention and make them want to learn more," she said. "We want to develop and 
nurture lifelong learning."

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And in a special event Thursday to add spice to the Iditaread, Melissa and 
Jason Smith of K-9 Pines Kennel in Saluda brought four of their Siberian huskies 
to the school for the students to see. The Siberian husky is one of Nordic 
breeds of dogs used in the Iditarod, Melisa Smith told the children.
Used traditionally to ferry food, medicine and supplies from town to town in 
Alaska, the dog is able to travel great distances on a minimal amount of food, 
she said.
The children gasped in delight as two husky puppies were brought out of their 
cage.
"They're neat," said fourth-grader Keyona Presha, who has already read four 
or five books during the Iditaread. "They're pretty and they're funny."
The students each chose an Iditarod musher to keep track of using the 
Internet, and are creating a timeline of their progress and using math to calculate 
distances traveled.
"It's cool that people take time to train their dogs so they can race," said 
third-grader Garrett Collins.
Chelsea Solesbee, a Vance fifth-grader, also enjoyed the huskies, but said 
she's recently developed a fondness for reading.
"I never liked reading, but now I do," she said. Contact Morrison at 
828-232-5849 or Cmorrison at CITIZEN-TIMES.com.




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