Southold fourth grade teacher Skip Munisteri has a knack for finding unique ways to motivate his students, and this morning he literally went to extreme lengths — he rode his bicycle from his home in Setauket to the elementary school in Southold to reward his class for achieving a reading goal.
In its fourth consecutive year, ‘Read to Ride’ is an initiative developed by Munisteri in which he gives his class 80 days to read 80 books. If they do so, he rewards them by riding his bike from his home to the school, a trip that takes about two hours. He began the program years ago when he taught third grade, but had to abandon it while he was teaching technology. He picked it up again when he was back in the regular classroom.
“Each student must read at least two appropriately leveled books,” he says. Students are tracked by filling out a summary of each book they’ve read. This year they exceeded their goal by reading 87 books as a class.
He’s never had a class that didn’t meet the goal, he says.
“They know that every other preceding year has met the goal so it puts a little pressure on them. They don’t want to be the one class that doesn’t make it.”
As Munisteri’s students awaited his arrival this morning, books in hand and class flag fluttering in the breeze, they talked about their teacher.
“Mr. Munisteri is a really nice teacher and he’s doing this because he wants kids to read,” said ten-year-old Ashleigh Doering.
“Mr. Munisteri’s always been very supportive with our class,” said Kenny McGunnigle, 10. “He’s always led us to accomplish big goals. That’s his main purpose in life, I think. He just encourages us so much.”
The first year he started up the program again, Munisteri rode the entire way alone. Since then other teachers — and even elementary principal Ellen O’Neill — joined him along the route. This year there were six fellow riders.
As Munisteri pulled up to the school he was greeted by the entire student body plus teachers, aides and some parents. O’Neill thanked him, saying that the school was honored that he started the Read to Ride program and invited him to come back next year. Munisteri is retiring this month, so today’s ride was his last as a faculty member.
Facing the cheering crowd, he was clearly moved by the reception. As he addressed the children his voice broke with emotion.
“I’m going to try to say something,” he said. “I applaud the fact that you read so many books. I want to thank all the teachers that came with me this morning. It was a wonderful ride and we appreciate how wonderful the Southold community is. I promise I’ll be back and I expect you to read even more books next year.”
Class mother Tiffany Law summed up her experience with Mr. Munisteri, saying “He is one of the best teachers I’ve ever seen in my life. He has a method of garnering the children’s attention and keeping it all day long. They are so in love with him; he’s able to teach them and have fun at the same time. They walk out of the class better people, better friends and better students.”
SoutholdLOCAL photos by Katharine Schroeder
