Reading beyond a million minutes

Number Five School celebrates literacy

Posted

Students, families and staff at the Lawrence School District’s Number Five School in Cedarhurst read books for more than one million minutes—1,029,492, to be exact — from Oct. 31 to Dec. 9 as part of the Million Minute Reading Challenge.
To honor the achievement, the school held an assembly on March 18, complete with cheerleaders, singing and a video presentation. A big box full of books presented as a surprise was unveiled and the books, along with raffle prizes, were awarded to the children.
Number Five School principal Rina Beach said that to include the families in the challenge offers them the chance to participate in the school’s community of learners. “Families are the best role models for their children,” she said. “Together, we can make a difference.”
The idea for the million minute reading goal came from Vicky Loweree, the reading specialist for the school. “I am always searching for innovative ways to motivate our students to read,” she said. “Students, teachers, parents, teacher aides, our cafeteria staff, our custodial staff, everyone reads. We want to show our students that we are a “community of readers, who read often and enjoy a variety of topics and genres.”
Chelsea Perard, a third-grader from North Woodmere, was one of the top readers.. She received an award certificate and gift voucher resembling a dollar to use at the school. “I feel so happy that I won,” she said. “I’m going to put my certificate and my dollar into a nice picture frame. ‘Flat Stanley Goes to Paris’ was my favorite book to read during the challenge,” Perard added enthusiastically.