Rosemont Elementary in Orlando, FL began using Scholastic Reading Counts!® five years ago to further the school's efforts to promote reading. According to first grade teacher Wendy Wolfe, Rosemont chose SRC! because it offers students control of their reading and allows teachers to customize goals and expectations for their class.

Each year, Rosemont's reading team develops a new theme to inspire students and get them involved in reading. The 2008-2009 theme is Be a Super Hero: Read!. The super hero motif is visually represented in the school's media center and in individual classrooms.

This school year, every Rosemont classroom adopted a super hero for their teacher to become. Each month, the student goal is ten points and the classroom goal is 80% of the students meeting their goal. When the classroom goal is met, the teacher earns a piece of his or her super hero costume. Incentives are also awarded each month to the students who meet their goal. Plus, at the end of the year, students who met their goal at least six times will be invited to a Super Hero party! On the day of the party, those students will be allowed to wear a super hero costume to school and any teacher who chooses to may join in.

One of the most impressive things about Rosemont's program is the collaborative way it is implemented throughout the school. Each grade in the school (Pre-K to 5) participates in the program. Wendy explains:

Our Pre-K through first grade students earn one point for each book their parent reads with them at home. We keep track of these points through a reading log that parents must sign each night. Students in first grade are encouraged to take tests independently, as well. Some teachers read a book to the students (such as chapter books the students would not be able to read on their own) and then the students individually take the tests. Some teachers assign buddies to any student that cannot independently read the tests on the computers (in any grade) but can read the books. These buddies read the tests to the students and provide technical assistance of how to actually use the computer to test.

Wendy points out that Rosemont's program continues to grow each year, with the children taking advantage of time before and after school to read and test, and teachers building time into their school day for students to take tests. In addition, the school's Extended Day after-school program promotes the program by both providing copies of SRC! books for students to read and taking them to the computer lab to test.

On a final note, Wendy notes that the school is always looking to expand their program - she would even like to find another Scholastic Reading Counts! school to challenge. If you'd like to challenge this “Super Hero” SRC! school or share your own success story, let us know!