submitted by Erin Clary, Communications Specialist, New Lebanon CSD
They say that duct tape fixes everything. Turns out it can also motivate children to read.
On Friday, November 21, all students at the Walter B. Howard Elementary School will tally their log sheets to see if they’ve reached their two week reading goal of 60,000 total minutes. The prize? Duct taping Principal Andrew Kourt right to the wall.
Students are participating in the “Stuck to Reading,” a read-a-thon in honor of American Education Week. Since November 7 students and parents have been logging their at home reading minutes. Students and teachers will tally the minutes during a “reading celebration assembly” and then break out the tape.
This project correlates with the healthy habit of “beginning with the end in mind,” – something the students have been working on all month. Each month students learn about a new healthy habit. Students observed demonstrating these habits are recognized in the school community.
According to Principal Andrew Kourt, motivating children to read independently at home can often be a challenge. By providing them with a goal to work towards, students are more enthusiastic and excited to read. By reading books that are “just right” for them, they become better readers.
“It is our goal to have our students reading at or above grade level. Helping children to get excited about reading will help us meet that goal,” said Kourt. “The read-a-thon with the idea that I will be taped to the wall has motivated our children to read. As a Principal I will do anything to make reading a little more exciting.”