COURTLAND—Riverdale Elementary School hosted a program Tuesday evening to inspire children and parents to become extra excited about reading and math.

The Kindergarten Kraze Workshop featured Dana Brittle and Hilliary Story, both reading specialists at the school, along with other kindergarten-level teachers. After serving pizza, they all offered ideas to parents on how they can foster development in the two aforementioned skills.

“What can you do help your child? Read, read, read,” said Brittle. “I can’t say it enough.”

In tandem with Story, they also suggested reading nursery rhymes, creating word cards, using colorful magnetic letters and playing word games.

Everyday household items that could be used are egg cartons, cereal boxes, highlighters, junk mail and sticky notes.

The teachers, as well as a representative of the Rawls Library, moved around tables every several minutes and offered their ideas.

“I think it went very well,” Brittle said afterward. She add that the parents were quite receptive to the suggestions and asked lots of questions.

“The children were very excited about the books,” she said.

Brittle estimated about 120 people showed up, which included 43 kindergarten students their siblings and parents.

“We are hoping to do it at least once a year, maybe a bit earlier,” she said about continuing the workshop.