By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
USD 428 is big on reading in the Great Bend schools. The district recently completed its GB Reads Initiative, and many teachers are currently undergoing Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) training to enhance their ability to reach students. Park Elementary School has offered a unique reading contest to its students for approximately five years. Instructional Coach Lacey Hofflinger shared information with the board of education during Tuesday's luncheon at the school.
"When we looked at the research, it showed that if students can read for about 20 minutes a day on their own outside of school, they can actually raise their own reading level by a grade level," Hofflinger said. "We thought we could use that to help some of our kids really take off with their reading."
Kindergartners and first graders turn in sheets for every 10 books read. For every 30 books read per nine-week quarter, that student can choose a free book from a book fair. Students in grades 2-6 record reading time in 20-minute increments. For every 480 minutes read each quarter, those students can choose a book. Hofflinger uses mini-grants from the district to purchase contemporary titles for the fairs.
"For some of our kids who don't get a lot of access to books, this is a way they can get ahold of some books they really want and want to read," she said. "It's a nice cycle where they can read that book and turn it in for their next set of reading minutes."
The next book fair is scheduled for March 4. Hofflinger estimates 25 percent of all Park students will get to pick at least one book, though several students may be taking home half a dozen books.