The reading program encourages our children to read each night and aims to make reading a fun and educational part of each day. Each year a theme is chosen around which the program focuses.
Students at each grade level participate; those who have not yet learned to read have someone read to them. Teachers and staff members are encouraged to participate as well. The children, along with their teachers, decide on a reading goal (anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes per night) and are asked to commit to participating five out of seven days, and seven out of the eight weeks of the program. Parent volunteers tally the weekly logs stutents are asked to complete.
This program encourages learning to read by providing weekly incentives, peer support, teacher involvement, and an end-of program award ceremony. Examples of weekly incentives include stickers, tattoos, a coupon for a free game of bowling, a coupon for a kids’ meal at a local restaurant, pencils, etc. The children look forward to receiving an incentive each week. At the end of the eight weeks, students who completed their reading requirements and their parents/guardians are invited to an awards ceremony where they receive gold medals in reading from their teachers.