Scholastic Reading Counts! Success Story: St. John’s Catholic School, Madison, Alabama

St. John’s Catholic School is a parochial school. This year we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of our school. Our school opened in 1996 with only 140 students in grades K-4 and 7 staff members. We now have over 500 students in grades K-8, and a staff of over 30 people! Our school has flourished due to a supportive community and an excellent teaching staff. Our teachers put students first, and are constantly looking for ways to make our school even better. One of the biggest challenges for our school has been the lack of resources to help struggling students and gifted students. Since we are a private school, our students do not have access to the remediation and enrichment programs provided in public schools. Three years ago, we began using Scholastic Reading Counts! as a supplement to our sixth grade reading program. I began piloting its use in order to motivate our struggling readers, as well as challenge our gifted readers. The struggling students are picking up books more frequently and I can’t keep up with all the books our gifted readers are reading! Our 7th and 8th grade language arts teacher has commented that the students are stronger in reading skills, comprehension, and are able to pull the underlying meaning from their reading. The program has been so successful with our sixth graders that we are now in the process of extending its use to all of our middle school students.

When I began using Scholastic Reading Counts! in middle school, many of my students claimed to be “too busy” to read. Since reading for enjoyment is so closely connected to success later in life, I knew I had to get over this hump with the kids. At first, I was reluctant to offer tangible rewards to the students. I wanted them to learn to read simply for the love of reading. Hesitantly, I began offering small tangible rewards. Interestingly enough, I found that students who read the most frequently (and those with the most points) were rarely redeeming their points. This was the assurance I needed – those tangible rewards are a crutch needed by some of the kids who aren’t yet “hooked” by reading itself. When they’re ready, they let go of the crutch. To help students reach this point, I talk with them about their individual progress. I focus on the personal successes of each student rather than the class goals that some students may not attain. With all the useful management tools and reports that Scholastic Reading Counts! provides, I can carefully monitor student progress. One of my favorite features of Scholastic Reading Counts! is that the 30 question bank allows students to retake the quizzes if they don’t pass (again emphasizing success), and it prohibits students from sharing answers. Since middle schoolers are keenly aware of their peers, I do not post the points for all to see, nor do I reward students with the highest points. By focusing on personal goals, I can encourage students to recognize even the smallest of successes. For some children finishing just one book and quiz is a major success. For others, the success might mean reading 50 books and taking all matching quizzes! I keep my own goal in mind - to help each child develop the desire to read for pleasure - and thanks to Scholastic Reading Counts! I’ve been able to help many students find this enjoyment.

Middle school is a difficult age, and the students often struggle with their newly found independence. I find that giving students some control over their environment and allowing them to make their own choices results in a more positive atmosphere. Through Scholastic Reading Counts! , I have been able to give them more control in the classroom. I am able to give the students more opportunities for free choice book selection and independent reading because I can closely monitor their comprehension. I keep a list of suggested books/quizzes in my reading corner and students add their suggestions for new books and quiz. Periodically, I order items from their list. Students set their own reading goals based on how much they’ve read in the past. Having students complete a reading inventory of reading habits really helps with this.

Involving the students has been instrumental in the success of the program. At the beginning of the year, students complete an interest inventory. I use these inventories to choose books for the classroom and to help individual students find books they may like to read. Often kids just don’t know WHAT to read. With so many books out there, they are overwhelmed. If I notice a student has not taken a quiz recently, I consider their interests and help them find a title that might appeal to them. When offering rewards, I involve the students in selecting the rewards. I have found that homework passes, passes for snack foods and passes for extra points on tests are the most coveted prizes.

Another important part of Scholastic Reading Counts! success has been the involvement of parents. At our parent meetings at the beginning of the year, and in our first classroom newsletter, I explain Scholastic Reading Counts! Parents know first hand how difficult it is to motivate middle schoolers to read, and they approach the program with enthusiasm. Each time I send home a Scholastic Book Order, I attach a list of SRC books we’d like to have for the classroom. The parents donate books from the list when they place their own orders. My classroom library has grown rapidly as a result, and sometimes parents include cash donations when they send in their orders. I use the cash donations to purchase more quizzes. Parents often thank me at parent conferences for exciting their children about reading – but really, it is Scholastic Reading Counts! that has motivated the children! One parent commented that for the first time her son had discovered books that he enjoyed, and that he was no longer reading because he “had to.” If Scholastic Reading Counts! inspires just one child to read, then that is a major success.

Tips for Scholastic Reading Counts! Users

1. INVOLVE the students as much as possible. Ask the kids for suggestions when ordering new quizzes. (I keep a list posted in our book corner where the students can add quiz suggestions periodically.) Ask the students for prize suggestions and help them set their own reading goals so that they are individualized for each student.

2. Have a large classroom library of quiz books readily available and offer silent reading time daily. When given time to read silently, the kids will cruise the classroom library for something to read. Often they get “hooked” on what they find and will continue the book on their own. Involve parents in expanding your classroom library by attaching a “wish list” to your monthly book orders.

3. In the beginning of the year, read a book together and then have the students take the corresponding quiz individually. When the book has been read and discussed in class, the kids are confident about the material and can do well on the quiz. This insures a positive first experience in your classroom, and for students who are new to Scholastic Reading Counts!, it gets the fear of the unknown out of the way early.