[On Site] "Oh? They Turned Into Pigs!"... Children Enchanted by the Magic of Picture Books

Wando Elementary’s Reading and Discussion Program Gains Popularity

Combining Reading with Debate

Principal Lee Cheolho: "Collaborating with the Community... Committed to Book-Based Education"

"Teacher, why did the tree say it was happy even after giving everything to the boy? It makes me sad because it reminds me of my mom and dad."

On July 6, in a classroom at Wando Elementary School. As the teacher closed the final page of Shel Silverstein’s picture book "The Giving Tree," the room filled with serious questions and exclamations from the children. Drawing parallels between the characters in the book and their own families, students actively engaged in discussions based on the story.

Wando Elementary School signed an MOU with Wando Ai Cooperative and is conducting a customized reading and writing program, drawing attention as a model case of cooperation between public education and the local community. Photo by Lee Jungkyung

Beyond Simple Reading: A Class Where Thoughts Are Shared

The "Reading and Discussion Program" currently operated by Wando Elementary School has been receiving positive feedback from students, parents, and the local community. In this program, teachers and students read picture books together and freely share their thoughts about the content.

Various picture books, including "The Giving Tree," Anthony Browne's "Piggybook," and Kwon Jeongsaeng's "Dog Poo," have been used as teaching materials in the classes. Notably, after reading "Piggybook," students went on to debate topics such as household chores and the roles of family members—transforming reading into expressive and expansive activities beyond simply finishing a book.

This approach, which combines reading and discussion, has also led to high satisfaction among parents. One parent said, "My child was usually quiet and had difficulty expressing themselves, but after joining the program, they started bringing up stories from the books they read at home, and their ability to communicate has improved greatly."

The local community also views the program as an opportunity for students—who have grown accustomed to smartphones and short-form videos—to reconnect with books. There is growing hope that this initiative will expand to other schools in the area.

Students at Wando Elementary School are reading picture books together and discussing them in the 'Reading and Writing Discussion Program.' Photo by Lee Jungkyung

The Fruit of a Strong Partnership: Wando Elementary School and Wando Ae Cooperative

Wando Elementary School’s reading education program is run in collaboration with a local social economy organization. On June 17, Wando Elementary signed a "Care Classroom Reading Education Operation MOU" with Wando Ae Cooperative, dividing roles to improve the efficiency of education.

The cooperative has announced plans to guide students in developing the ability to think and express themselves independently, aligning with the emphasis on "reading education" by Kim Daejung, Superintendent of Education for Jeonnam-Gwangju.

The ongoing program is now recognized as a leading example of successfully implementing the intent of the MOU within the public education classroom.

At the signing ceremony, Principal Lee Cheolho expressed concern over children drifting away from books in their busy lives and emphasized the importance of fostering an environment where reading is enjoyed from an early age. He voiced high expectations for the positive changes the program would bring.

Principal Lee Cheolho stated, "A single picture book gives children endless things to think about, while also providing them with the courage to freely express their thoughts to the world. Moving forward, we plan to further enhance the program by combining a wider variety of books and creative activities to support children's emotional development and literacy skills."

By partnering with the community, Wando Elementary School’s reading and discussion initiative, launched within public education classrooms, is establishing itself as a practical alternative for improving students’ literacy and communication skills.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.