Originally published in The Gowanda News on Friday, December 21, 2012.

With the holidays approaching, Gowanda Elementary School had no problem finding means to spread cheer; Mrs. Heather Puntillo’s Reading Elves did the job.

It’s a project Puntillo does every year with her third-graders.

“All kids wrote their own holiday story,” said Puntillo. “We visit a website that gives each child an elf name; this elf becomes the main character of their
stories.”

Her students come up with problems for their individual stories, resulting in the cancellation of Christmas.

“But have no fear, a little elf (each child) saves the day by coming up with a solution just in time to save Christmas!” Puntillo said.

Puntillo’s Reading Elves shared their stories with younger grades on Tuesday, Dec. 18 while wearing elf hats –– complete with elf ears –– made out of construction paper.

Puntillo carefully chooses which elf will visit certain classrooms.

“I pair the student up with a teacher that they have had in the past, or
a teacher who is currently teaching a sibling/cousin,” she said. “They are very
motivated to show their past teachers how much they have grown up and are
quite proud when they read to a sibling’s class as well!”

Puntillo’s elves serve as role models for students in younger grades as they spread their cheer. And while some elves choose not to read their own original stories, holiday picture books serve as available substitutions.

“It is a great way to keep students focused on literacy skills while the excitement of Christmas whips through them,” Puntillo said.