Literacy Jeopardy! In Derby

Mayor Anthony Staffieri missed his calling – he should have been a game show host.

Staffieri stepped into the shoes of Alex Trebek at a literacy Jeopardy game for first-graders at Irving School in Derby on Monday.

As the emcee, he quizzed 6- and 7‑year-olds from both Bradley and Irving schools on five books they had read. Many of the students, who said they watch Jeopardy! at home, giggled as Staffieri hummed the theme music aloud while students decided on answers.

In the end, Purple Team members Matthew Deptula from Irving School and Jiline Cole from Bradley School triumphed over the dozen two-person teams. Other winners included:

  • 2nd Place: Cameron Grandy (Irving School) and Cole Boulton (Bradley School)
  • 3rd Place: Justin Liriano (Irving) and Bianca Espaillat (Bradley)
  • Honorable Mention: Susan Chagas (Irving) and Simran Patel (Bradley)
  • Honorable Mention: Christina Cramer (Irving) and Adam Bowlby (Bradley)
  • Honorable Mention: Jeremy Smith (Irving) and Olivia Ruggerio (Bradley)

The 125 first-graders did not know which 24 of them would compete before the contest, so everyone had to study the five books carefully. The students read â€‹â€śCorduroy,” â€‹â€śArthur’s Nose,” â€‹â€śKnuffle Bunny,” â€‹â€śAlexander and the Wind-Up Mouse” and â€‹â€śA Chair for My Mother” in their classes.

The Jeopardy game is in its second year, but this is the first year Bradley School has been invited, said Irving School Reading Specialist Jenny Ames. Ames created the program last year for Irving students, modeling it after a similar program her mother created for older students at St. Lawrence School in Shelton.

“We saw how successful it was last year and thought, why not involve all of Derby’s first-graders?” Ames said.

Teachers praised the program for engaging students. Ames hopes to see children get excited about reading just in time for summer break. 

Staffieri, who emceed the program last year, has similar hopes.

“It’s so important to start kids having fun reading at a young age,” he said. ​“We want to encourage kids to curl up with a good book.”

Are you smarter than Derby’s first graders?

See if you can answer these questions about as well as the first-graders at Bradley and Irving schools did. 

The students read five books and were asked three questions about each one. Here’s a sampling of the questions:

Corduroy, by Don Freeman

Q: Where did Lisa get the money to buy Corduroy?

A: Her piggy bank

Arthur’s Nose, by Mark Brown

Q: Who complains to the teacher about Arthur’s nose?

A: Francine

Knuffle Bunny, by Mo Willems

Q: Who is the first to notice Knuffle Bunny is missing?

A: Mom or Trixie

Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse, by Leo Lionni

Q: Why was Annie getting rid of her old toys?

A: Because she got new ones for her birthday

A Chair for My Mother, by Vera B. William

Q: Where does the narrator’s mother, a waitress, put all her tips?

A: In the glass jar

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