Readers ARE becoming leaders ... before our very eyes!

In my last post, I described the project that my Reading Specialist and myself have been working on this year. We have been so excited about how this idea has grown.

As we began the new semester, once again we asked students to set a goal for themselves. Even more importantly though, we asked students how they would like to share what they learned from this experience. Our sixth-grade group immediately stepped up. They decided to make a presentation to the third graders about just how important reading is and why it should “be a habit, not homework.” 

They had students fill out exit slips about one goal related to reading that they wanted to achieve before the end of the year. most of the students mentioned something they heard in the 6th-grade presentation. Score!

The next step, then, was for the 6th graders to walk the talk. We got some names from the third grade teachers of students in their classes who might benefit from a “reading mentor” and we matched them up with our sixth graders. Now, the sixth graders are leading the third graders through the process that we started with them this fall. And so far, the results have been inspiring. We told the third graders that any time they finished a book, they could come find their reading buddy and tell them about it. The third grade and sixth-grade teachers are all on board with potential interruptions so that the kids can celebrate together. 


My heart melted when one of the third-grade students said “I never get picked for anything. I’m so glad I get to do this.” Stay tuned for more developments!