Summer Literacy & Math Project
All students are encouraged to participate in the district's annual summer literacy and math project that provides engaging ways for students to not only practice reading and math skills, but more importantly encourages lifelong readers and mathematicians. All of the projects center around student choice and are designed to be authentic in nature. In addition, each school hosts summer literacy events at the school in our library-media centers. This is a great opportunity for students to visit the school over the summer, see some of our staff, return and check out books, and much more. The goal of these events is to promote summer reading and math, while celebrating choice and building school community.
Part of the literacy project includes one required read modeled off of the national campaign called One School, One Book. This campaign aims to build a community of readers within our school as everyone – students, teachers, and even administrative staff – read the book. In the summer of 2019, the elementary story selected was available at both the primary and upper grade levels. The primary book was Best Friends: The True Story of Owen & Mzee by Roberta Edwards. The upper elementary book was Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship told by Isabella & Craig Hatkoff and Dr. Paula Kahumbu. Middle school students, have a modified concept of One School, One Book titled One School, One Theme. This allows middle school students to choose their one required reading from about three book options. The summer 2019 titles were: I Funny by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein, Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper, or The Perfect Score by Rob Buyea. Teachers annually start the school year off celebrating student summer work and integrated book themes into back-to-school routines.
