Learning to read is a fundamental skill and an important focus in the early learning years. Reading in the upper grades is just as important. Students who read 15-30 minutes per day show accelerated reading growth. Strong readers tend to do well academically across all subject areas which moves them toward one of our goals here at Twin Peaks Classical Academy: all students being accepted and successful at a four year university. However, that is not the only reason we read books.
In school we see the gifts that reading brings to students that are not just academic.
~Students so hooked into the read aloud story that they groan in disappointment when the chapter ends.
~Students making a connection from their history books to their lives.
~Students so excited to go to the library to get the next book in the series.
~Students recommending books to each other.
~Students trading facts about different insects while waiting to be picked up after school.
All of these little moments in the day highlight the joy and beauty books bring to our lives.
So, every February we remind our students (and ourselves) that reading is not only good for us, but it is also fun with the annual Reading Challenge. Our Reading Challenge: GROW Into Reading! began a couple of weeks ago and is now in full swing. Every leaf or fruit on the tree (pictured here) represents a book read.
The Reading Challenge is kind of like sneaking zucchini into the brownies for your kids; reading is healthy for your brain, but it can also be tasty!