Read a Million Words, Seattle! Kickoff
What's the secret to becoming a millionaire?
A word millionaire, that is. It is to read, read, read!
This is the key message that was shared at the city-wide launch of Read a Million Words, Seattle! held last month at Dunlap Elementary School. Among those on hand to spread the word were Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson, Chief Academic Officer Carla Santorno, City Librarian Deborah Jacobs, and a group of Dunlap third-grade students. The campaign challenges students in K-12 classrooms in Seattle Public Schools and adults-educators, parents and other family members, care givers, and community members-to join in the goal of reading a million words this year.
A Dunlap Elementary School student reads to School Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson on October 16 during the city-wide kickoff of Read a Million Words, Seattle!
Part of the impetus for Read a Million Words, Seattle! is research that connects the frequency and amount of time children spend reading with their reading success and overall academic achievement. As Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson said, “Good reading skills are so vital to success in every aspect of school—and in life.” The effort also reflects one of Seattle Public Schools’ critical academic milestones—third-grade students reading on grade level. In addition, the Alliance for Education and our Every Child a Reader partnership are proud supporters of Read a Million Words, Seattle!
What does the campaign look like in schools and classrooms? Many schools have giant, colorful posters prominently displayed to track progress toward the million word goal. Others have added cards, showing the number of words, next to student writing work on exhibition in hallways. Every K-2 classroom has a new 500-book library to promote children’s independent, pleasure reading, with plans to extend classroom libraries to third through fifth grades. Teachers in elementary classrooms are also tying the concept of “millions” into the new K-5 math adoption.
According to Cathy McLeod, Seattle Public Schools Library Services Supervisor and campaign coordinator, “It’s exciting to watch the momentum build for this effort, both within schools and within our community! The online resources of the Read a Million Words, Seattle! Web site have been especially well-received. Almost 2,000 students are tracking their words, using an online log; some have contributed book reviews and recommendations. The Web site’s newest addition—responding to community demand—is a tab for adults to monitor the number of words they are reading.”
The third-grade Dunlap Elementary School class of Ms. Victoria Appleton joined school staff, District leaders, and community partners for the kickoff event.
Dunlap principal Greg Imel captured the power of the Read a Million Words, Seattle! campaign when he described the enthusiasm of one of his first-graders who proudly told of reading aloud to his baby sister, age “zero” because she was born in September. Imel commented, “This isn’t about literacy; it’s about our children’s lives.”
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