Sacred Heart Catholic School

SALISBURY — Sacred Heart Catholic School fifth-graders are crazy about Global Read Aloud.

The international program was developed by Pernille Ripp and involves students from all over the world reading the same book, then connecting with each other to discuss their reading experience. Students converse with others around the world and learn about their lives and cultures, their towns, weather, extracurricular activities and traditions.

This year, schools involved in Global Read Aloud are reading “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown.

Last week, Sacred Heart students participated in a video call with a fifth-grade class in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This week, they talked to a class in Salida, Colorado. The students are discovering each other — and their similarities and differences — and learning that some students get to go mountain biking for PE.

“My students are having the best time reading. Yes, that’s success in my classroom,” fifth-grade teacher Lynn Frank said. “They are ‘over the moon’ excited about their reading assignments and visiting with students from all over.”

Global Read Aloud is held every fall and lasts for six weeks.