Broadalbin-Perth’s The Learning Community is excited to announce its fourth annual Pick a Reading Partner (PARP) program to encourage at-home reading. This year’s PARP program launched on Friday, Sept. 29 during the all-school Team Time, and features a “Jack and the Beanstalk” theme.
TLC Principal Bradley Strait says the goal is to have all TLC students read six or more books with their reading partner every month. Students should keep track of their reading on their PARP sheets and return them to school by the monthly due date. School-wide progress will be marked on a display that features a large beanstalk painting and a cylinder for collecting ping pong balls.
“Every time a child reads a book, we’re going to fill the beanstalk’s cylinder with a ping pong ball to show how tall the beanstalk will grow with our magical reading powers,” Strait said.
In the past, the PARP program has provided individualized incentives for students who meet their reading goals. This year, the program has changed to provide incentives for the entire school. If at least 80 percent of the school’s students can meet their reading goals every month, they will enjoy perks such as Pajama Day or extra recess time. If at least 90 percent of the students meet their reading goals, the rewards may include a bounce house, a movie day or having Mr. Strait dress as a giant to read stories.
“We are still going to reward students who reach the 250, 500 and 1,000 book levels. But by providing incentives for the whole school, it shows we’re working together as a team,” Strait said.
Research shows that reading to your child just 15 minutes a day outside of the regular school day can go a long way in supporting their education. Students’ reading partners can model expression and pronunciation, and it gives students opportunities to learn new vocabulary and ask questions for reading comprehension.
Children can check books out of the media center and can take books home as part of the 1,000 Book Club, which has been fully restocked for this school year.
