Reading!  What a way to start the day!  At Helfrich Park Middle School, students and teachers enjoy twenty minutes of uninterrupted reading during the Advisor-Advisee time three of the five mornings each week.  While the last two days are reserved for advisory and intramurals, sustained silent reading has proven to be one of the most successful approaches to improving reading scores that we have found.

      In order for our program to work, specific guidelines are in place.  First, reading is so important that no one can be doing anything else during this time.  Students are in their seats or on the floor with books they have selected from the school library or the classroom library.  A daily newspaper in each homeroom provides students with the opportunity to learn more about their community.  Paper and pencils are put away.  No one visits his or her locker or carries on school business, because everything stops for reading.  Second, teachers model reading.  The old adage that actions speak louder than words is quite appropriate.  Teachers realize that modeling reading impacts their students’ attitudes and efforts at reading.  In some instances, students are asking teachers to share their books with them, and they have requested those particular books be purchased for the school library media center.  Other teachers frequently read to their students from the newspaper, which provides stimulating discussions during Advisory.  Some teachers make a point to read the Young Hoosier Book Award books or Indiana Read-Alouds for themselves in order to stimulate classroom discussions or simply to familiarize themselves with what’s popular in young adult literature.  The point is this: Teachers read!  Helfrich Park teachers agree that improving a student’s ability to read is directly related to success in all areas of the curriculum.  If a reading initiative is to work, every staff member must agree to the guidelines.

      The success of any reading initiative requires funding.  Classroom libraries were established three years ago with an investment of $300 per homeroom.  School fundraising each year has raised $100 to keep each collection fresh.  Teachers have used planning time to shop for their classroom libraries.  An alliance with a nationally recognized bookstore chain has provided guidance and discounts for students and teachers.  For the past two years, the sixth grade team of teachers has taken the entire class of 200 students to the bookstore to shop for books at Christmas.  In fact, the store opens early and provides extra help for our kids, many of whom have never visited a bookstore.  The partnership has led to a school-business partnership that is thriving!

      A student-centered library media center is also essential to any reading initiative.  Students visit the library media center at least once a week through reading or language arts classes.  The library media center is also open before and after school.  Students may visit during their lunch recess.  The expectation for our students is that everyone carry a book to read throughout the day.  Frequent reminders are given during morning announcements over the in-house television system.  Digital pictures of our students “caught reading” are featured on TV each day.  Finally, our principal, with a book in hand, makes a point to drop in and read with a different homeroom  several times a week.