With 'Reading in the Cashew Tree', state school in Belém encourages outdoor learning
Storytelling, shared reading, and literary events engage students from the State School São Francisco de Assis in an environment of interaction, reflection, and creativity
To encourage the habit of reading and the formation of critical readers, the State School São Francisco de Assis, in the Tapanã neighborhood of Belém, created the "Reading in the Cashew Tree" Project, a space that brings together teachers and students in an environment of learning, interaction, and creativity outdoors.
With activities such as storytelling, shared reading, book discussions, and literary events, the Project involves all students from 1st to 5th grade of Elementary School, aiming to stimulate the habit of reading for pleasure rather than school obligation, broaden cultural repertoire, develop the ability to interpret and critically analyze texts, and encourage discussions on contemporary and historical themes, in addition to improving students' written and oral competencies.
Literary experiences - "The Reading in the Cashew Tree Project was implemented at the school in October 2024. Upon taking over the management of the unit in September of the same year, I identified the need to develop an initiative aimed at stimulating students' reading, comprehension, and text production. The Project encompasses all classes from 1st to 5th grade, with reading moments led by both teachers and the students themselves. Additionally, visits from Pará writers are conducted, who participate as mediators in storytelling sessions, providing enriching literary experiences," explained the unit's manager and the initiative's creator, Milene Souza.
According to the principal, the results of the Project's implementation "are already noticeable. In 2024, during the reading fluency assessment of 2nd-grade students, the school recorded no fluent students. However, in the 2025 entry profile, we already have five fluent students, and we believe this number will continue to grow significantly throughout the year," emphasized Milene Souza.
For 5th-grade student Aisha Martins, the Project makes a difference. "I like 'Reading in the Cashew Tree' because it takes place in a space outside the classroom, in contact with nature. In it, we read books and conduct research on important themes, such as bullying, respect for differences, Orange May (campaign aimed at combating the sexual abuse of children and adolescents), and the environment. At this moment, we also have the opportunity to present what we have learned to our classmates," she reported.
