Kay Scherich’s fourth graders at Anna K. Davie Elementary showed just how “Wild About Reading” they are, on Friday morning February 4, as they celebrated their impressive reading goals with a Lego themed party.
The students also had a special guest that day. Rome City Schools Reading Incentive Director, Julie Reid, stopped by to congratulate the students, not just for meeting their goal, but for completely exceeding it!
The Accelerated Reader program uses a point system based on the length of books and text difficulty.
Scherich had a goal of 3,000 points set for her students, and as of Wednesday February 3, the fourth graders read 5,451 books, which came out to 3,126 points!
School-wide, AKD students have read a total of 11,217 books, which means the fourth graders are responsible for half the books read!
Reid says that she enjoys sharing the number of books read among schools; she said that it inspires a bit of healthy competition, which just means more reading.
Reid affirmed the positive impact that Scherich has had on her students, “She’s such an inspiration. Her influence has really carried on. Her fifth graders that have left her have kept that love of reading and it’s just going to continue to grow. I wanted to feature her today because she is just so special.”
It's evident that Scherich goes the extra mile. As the students eagerly sorted through colorful keychains, handmade by Scherich, Reid explained that when there is a book that the students really want to read, Scherich works really hard to make sure they get access to that book.
“You’ve got to invest in them and let them know that you care about what they’re reading," Scherich explained. "If you can find something that they like to read, then they’ll read more. Research has shown that the one thing that makes you a better reader is taking in a volume of reading.”
The Wild About Reading initiative offers prizes and incentives along the way to encourage the students to keep working toward their goals. “They’ve already gotten a frisbee, a water bottle, and a Wild About Reading magnet," Reid said. "They’re working toward the T-shirt now, and then at the end of the year there is a surprise field trip.”
Reid gifted each student with a hardback copy of "Star Wars: Galactic Adventures."
The students also get to add their names to the signature wall, displayed in the hallway at AKD, as their number of books read increases.
“I am so proud of this group of students," Scherich smiled. "They are so much fun, they’ve worked really really hard. They all really try to reach their own goals and compete with themselves.”
"At AKD, we believe that Readers Make Leaders," Principal Felisha Jackson said.
"As we kick-off Black History Month, I want to quote Malcolm-X, 'Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
Jackson said that AKD will implement even more programming in an effort to encourage literacy.
"I am excited to kick-off our first annual Read-a-thon Marathon," she said, "to encourage a love of reading while raising money and awareness for our AKD scholars. This initiative is a direct connection to our school wide and district wide Super Reader initiative, which we will continue for years to come during the month of February to celebrate Black History Month!"
Jackson explained that the Read-a-thon Marathon is an online program that will allow access and encouragement for parent involvement as well.
“The kids are excited," she smiled. "It’s also a school-wide fundraiser; so we will be simultaneously encouraging that love of reading while we’re also raising funds for our students so that we can put more books in their hands.”
As Fredrick Douglas said, “Once you learn to read you will forever be free!”
Go Wolves!