BY AUSTIN, NICHOLAS, STEFAN, AND VICTORIA M.

Hollywood Hills Elementary (HHE) School kindergarten through second grade students are participating in reading and drawing activities online. This is all because of a new event: Kraus in the House.

Kraus in the House is a monthly reading event where Literacy Coach Mrs. Kraus reads books aloud to students. Some books include “Peter Rabbit,” “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus,” “Knuffle Bunny,” and “Corduroy.”

“I love all the fun activities. We draw and we read books. I like the Pigeon ones. I drawed a picture of a bunny,” first grade student Bianca Malpezzi Sangorrin said. 

Mrs. Kraus enjoys meeting with the students through Microsoft Teams. Each month she selects a theme and chooses books based on that theme. Some themes that have been done are bears, bunny rabbits, and books by Mo Willems and Laura Numeroff.

“My goal is to make reading a lifelong habit,” Mrs. Kraus said. “I love seeing the huge smiles of children when they interact with books.”

Students draw pictures of the story book characters by following a how-to video created by Mrs. Kraus. Students use materials such as crayons, colored pencils, and markers.

“Mrs. Kraus read a book, and it was a funny book. I drew a picture of Peter the Rabbit,” second grade student Jayden Moises said.

Mrs. Kraus was inspired by HHE’s Literacy Nights that were held when the students could all meet face-to-face.

“I plan on continuing Kraus in the House next school year as I have truly enjoyed seeing so many students participating in an after-school activity,” Mrs. Kraus said.

HHE students participating in virtual Literacy Night with Mrs. Kraus.