Cami Bruns, a first grade teacher at Pierce Terrace Elementary School, reads a story to students in Italy during last week's Global Reading Buddies initiative. It was the first step in their plan for the students to take turn reading to each other in...

Teachers in Aviano, Italy, and Fort Jackson, South Carolina, shared stories with each other's students during last week's Global Reading Buddies initiative.

Pierce Terrace Elementary School first grade teacher Cami Bruns read the story "I'm Like You, You're Like Me" to a second grade class in Italy and the second grade teacher in Italy read it to Bruns' and Reanna Clifton's first graders at Pierce Terrace. This was the first step in their plan for the students to take turns reading to each other in small groups -- via Google Hangout --

as part of their Global Reading Buddies project.

After introducing themselves to each other, the students shared the weather at each location and the time difference. Bruns showed the first graders where Fort Jackson is on the map, and the students were able to see where Aviano, Italy, is located.

The experience led to a discussion about what military kids experience. "The kids were so excited," said Mike Haworth, a colleague who helped arrange the project. They asked interesting questions like "Do they all speak Italian? Do they have a CYS?"

Having lived in Japan and taught in Osan, Korea, Bruns said she understands the value of learning about other countries and cultures. "This was a wonderful way to expose our students to the world and share a learning opportunity with other military kids," she said.

Plans are being made to add more classes from Pierce Terrace and from Germany and other countries.