One District, One Book
August 29, 2017
Launch the media gallery 1 playerThis year on Tuesday, September 5 our school, grades PK-8 will be embarking on a special project, a district-wide book club called One School/One Book. Every family will receive a copy of the same books – Betty G. Birney’s The World According to Humphrey and The One and Only Ivan – and will be asked to read them together at home this fall and next spring. Please take the time so that your family can participate in this special activity.
Reading aloud at home is valuable because it better prepares your child to be an effective reader, and it is also a fun, worthwhile family activity. With the One School/One Book program, we aim to build a Community of Readers throughout our entire school district. Everyone in grades PK-8, parents, teachers, even administrative staff – will be literally all on the same page.
Your child will receive a copy of The World According to Humphrey in September and The One and Only Ivan next January. Along with the book, you will receive a reading schedule so that you can keep up at home. Generally, you will be asked to read about 10-15 minutes each night.
In school, your child will be invited to answer daily trivia questions to encourage and reward attentive listening. In class, students will explore the book through activities and discussions. You will want to make sure your family keeps up so that your child can be included.
For once children of all grade levels will all be listening to their parents read the same book. It actually makes sound educational sense. Reading professionals recommend reading material out loud that is beyond a child’s own reading level. We also believe that you can and should continue reading chapter books with your older children, even when they are able to read by themselves.
We have selected titles that can be followed and understood and enjoyed by younger students, but will still capture and stimulate interest in older children.
We hope that you’ll enjoy this special reading time with your children.
“When a whole district reads a book, there’s a lot to talk about.”