Henry Highland Garnett Elementary School kicked off the school’s first One Book, One School reading initiative on October 13. This is a school wide book club which promotes literacy from the school to the home. The book selection is The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney. Families are challenged to read this book at home with their children beginningOctober 19 and concluding November 6, with the culminating activities occurring on November 11th at 6:00pm for the students and their families. Teachers and staff members have also joined in the fun of reading this great book. During the three designated weeks, HHGES encourages families to turn off their electronics and spend time together reading.
Each student received their own copy of The World According to Humphrey, thanks to the schools PTA and for the younger students, the Judy Center. During a school-wide assembly, the program and book were introduced to the students. This assembly included lively skit performed by staff members playing the part of the characters from the text. The students also brought home a tailored reading schedule, which is linked to the schools website and accessible via a private Google Classroom site. A chapter will be read each night, which requires a 15 to 20 minute time commitment each evening.
In school, students will be invited to answer comprehension and/or trivia questions based on the chapter read from the night before. Students will take pride in knowing and anticipating the details of the story. In class, teachers may incorporate various activities that relate to the book throughout the month. Families will want to make sure they keep up the nightly reading so their children can be included in the rich discussions that will take place at school. Throughout the reading of the book, everyone will be talking about The World According to Humphrey!
One Book, One School is a unique program that promotes literacy, parental involvement, the love of reading, higher level thinking, book discussions, and quality family time. The staff hope that the HHGES One Book, One School initiative will encourage reading and all participants recognize the fun and reap the benefits of reading aloud chapter books to children at home.
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