Lake Parsippany Students Express to Impress

Whiz Kids:  Expressive Reading Team

Whiz Kids School: 

Whiz Kids Age: 5th-graders

The Lake Parsippany Expressive Reading Team finished first for the second consecutive year in the Parsippany Troy Hills School District competition.  The 2011 team members include Taylor Bellardino (third place), Kristin Taylor (fourth place), Lianna LaRiccia (honorable mention), Juliet Campbell, Janna Belfiore, Rushi Desai and Robert Li, student manager.  

The Lake Parsippany students joined their fifth-grade peers from each of the 10 Parsippany elementary schools for the annual Expressive Reading competition. Each student chose a three- to five-minute piece of literature, which they practiced reading with expression, poise, good enunciation and pacing and eye contact.   

During the competition, teacher-volunteers judged the students on seven characteristics during two rounds of competition.  While the students adjourned for dinner with their parents and coaches,  the results were tallied and the top-six scorers read their pieces one last time on stage in the auditorium.  

Trophies were awarded for honorable mention, fourth place, third place, second place and first place. In addition, one reader from each school received a trophy for best performance in their individual school.  The school with the highest total scores receives the grand trophy, which travels from school to school each year.  

 “Expressive reading delivers such a wealth of innate benefits to our students," said Noelle Farmer, Lake Parsippany teacher and expressive reading coach. "They are quite a diligent, committed and talented bunch.”