When Zurich Elementary School students returned to their classrooms, saying goodbye to carefree summer days on August 18, they encountered a new teacher. Hired in late May, Mrs. Brooke Pruttis will be teaching grades K-2 for the 2021-2022 school year.

As Brooke Elliott, Pruttis graduated from Montana State University-Northern on May 1 when she completed a degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in K-12 Reading. Later that month she signed a contract to teach in Zurich, and on June 10, she secured a hat trick when she married Kenneth Pruttis in Chinook, Montana.

"We scored big when we got this girl," Mrs. Colleen Overcast, Zurich Elementary School Administrator and Lead Teacher, proclaimed. "The kids love her, and they're busy every day. We feel very fortunate."

After a week into the school year, Pruttis confessed that she is past the jitters and working on "finding where every piece goes" as she learns the quirks of the curriculum for three distinct grade levels. She went on to describe the process as "a whirlwind of crazy so far" but reported that "everything is all really good."

"I'm putting an emphasis on reading since that is a foundational skill for learning," Pruttis stated. Each of her students-three kindergarteners, two first graders, and two second graders-formed an early goal for reading with many of them hoping to read more books related to an interest. Some of those named were animals, ballet, zebras, and farm machinery. Pruttis harnesses these interests in her classroom practices. One ambitious student completed the sentence starter: My reading goal is. . . by writing: "to read four books a day."

To motivate readers, Zurich Elementary School teachers utilize the Accelerated Reader (AR) program. The AR program is a computerized program that tests reading comprehension. Students select books at their reading levels, read independently or have books read to them, and take computer-delivered comprehension tests.

Every book on the AR BookFinder list has a point value. The number of points is based on a book's length and difficulty. For example, a three-point book might be a short, somewhat easier choice. A ten-point book would be longer and more challenging. Students earn points when they take the quiz for each book and pass it with an 80% or better.

Once a student passes an AR test in Mrs. Pruttis' classroom, that individual earns an ice cream scoop on the cone above their picture on the classroom door. "An incentive that is visual often translates to buy-in with students," Pruttis said. Readers also earn tickets that can be used to purchase prizes from the classroom store. The AR program tracks students' reading progress over the course of the school year.

During a recent sight word reading lesson, Pruttis received a pleasant surprise when one of her non-readers-upon seeing the word help-read it correctly, saying: "Hey, I know that word! I practiced it at home last night!"

In addition to a focus on reading, students have been learning classroom rules, routines, and procedures. "Some of my kindergarteners never had the pre-school experience, and one of my first graders was home-schooled; the other didn't attend kindergarten. Because 'doing school' is all foreign to them, I have been reinforcing school appropriate voices, behaviors, and expectations," Pruttis explained.

Not just the students are gaining knowledge, however. Pruttis admitted that she herself has learned a tremendous amount: "Every day, I learn about 300 new things. Just the other day, I discovered that some students are afraid of loud noises-like the pencil sharpener or the toilet flushing. I didn't expect that, so we're finding comfort zones and learning to make adjustments."

Pruttis also commented on how helpful her colleagues have been. "The teachers here are all so supportive with sharing ideas and giving feedback. I'm grateful to them and to my cooperating teacher from last spring at Meadowlark Elementary where I did my student teaching. Several times I have found myself asking, 'What would Tammy do?' I'm thankful for all of her mentoring. Tammy Edwards actually helped me design and arrange my classroom here in Zurich, too."

On August 26, Zurich Elementary School students visited Zurich Park. The students typically visit the Park at the end of a school year, but due to weather and COVID, they lost out on that opportunity two years in a row. To appease the students who craved time at the Park, their teachers promised that on the first nice weather day, they would all walk to the Park and spend some time there. Although Thursday's conditions cooperated, just as the students' Park day was ending, the wind and rain arrived. "Thankfully most of us were already back indoors before the weather turned," Pruttis said.

Besides their day at the park and an energetic new teacher, Zurich Elementary School has another reason to celebrate. Student enrollment numbers have reached 20. "We're growing, so that's good news!" Overcast reported.