Okay, this article doesn’t apply to my topic, but I think it’s too interesting to pass up, so I had to throw in a quick blog about it.
This Middle School principal in Maine is being recognized for improving discipline problems in her school. She has also implemented some changes within her school to make the building feel like a “community.” Look at what she did to promote reading within this community:
Principal sets the standard
by Noel K. Gallagher, journalist
Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram
March 15, 2007WHERE READING MATTERS
With fewer discipline problems, the students and teachers are better able to focus on learning, Brink said. She also is praised for instituting a mandatory 20-minute reading period every day for everyone in the building — from the secretaries and school nurse to the teachers and all students.
“Everyone loves that,” Brink said of the 9:40 a.m. ritual.
“Parents know not to come by the school because we won’t buzz a student out of class during that time. And it has helped our reading levels.”
Marsha Reny, who has taught English at the school for 18 years, said Brink has made a big change.
Just thought I’d share…
I think the success if this program is interesting because we had a 20 minute silent reading period every day from 5th through 8th grade, and I think only about a quarter of us actually read a book during that time. No one ever had a book with them, or they just poked the gawky member of the opposite sex sitting near them until the time was almost over.
I’m glad to hear that this works for this school- maybe because everyone participates? It probably didn’t help that our silent reading was between lunch and recess…
Reading is good for everyone.
I really like that program. I think it’s a great way to try to get kids to read more. I think the difference that makes this work is that it is the whole school every day. Rather than just another part of a class to get through, this is an every day break from school. I like that this doesn’t just benefit the students, but the whole faculty and staff, too. It kinda makes them set a good example and lets them also have some free reading time. I think everyone needs to work reading breaks into their lives. I know that I’m always happier when I’ve got a book going and have been able to find time to read it.