New mural to assist Weirton Elementary reading program

WEIRTON -- Pupils at Weirton Elementary will have a little more encouragement to read this year.

During the summer, Weir High School art students and art teacher Laura Johnston, painted a mural in the hallway to go along with Weirton Elementary's Accelerator Reader program.

"As students complete reading several books, they move an animal token down the painted art mural pathway," explained Donna Carnes, reading specialist at the school. "Each pathway reflects the reading journey the student follows to progress in their individual reading skill."

High school students involved in painting the mural were Alera Irvin, Elana Kniszek, Caitlin Pedrotti, Cailee Swearingen, Piper Pedrotti, Finch Bowders, Elle Maley and Naomi Young.

The mural features three sections: Greenwood Glen, Timber Park and Pinnacle Peak. With each path, the book length increases, along with compehension complexity, noted Carnes.

"The goal is for students to increase their enjoyment of reading and potentially move as far as possible down the designated pathway," she said.

The AR program is available to first- and second-grade pupils at the school.