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Rochester School District
90% Reading Goal

Introduction

Reasons for the goal

How to reach the
90% reading goal

District Data 2006-2007

How to Reach the 90% Reading Goal

Community Involvement

Each School and the School District will focus on the development of community involvement in the 90% reading goal.
1. Daily Reading
a. 20 minutes of daily reading
i. Student roles (daily reading log, reports, read)
i. Student roles (daily reading log, reports, read)
ii. Parent's role (Monitor, document, model reading to the child)
iii. School roles (provide model, parental training, books, document progress)
iv. Community Role (incentives, mobilize the community, volunteer readers,)
Variation In Numbers of Minutes and Words Reading Outside of Class by Fifth Graders

Second Father
The Kennewick School Board heard about another victory just a few months later from a young divorced father, nervous at telling his story but speaking with riveting earnestness. He had frequent visitations with his preschool son, Jason, but he never really knew quite what to do. So Jason spent time "at" Dads, but not time "with" Dad. Dad was frustrated, but at a loss to know what to do.
Jason was in an Early Childhood Educational Assistance Program, a project run by the Kennewick School District. The mother, as custodial parent, received the home visits, but the father started dropping in at the classroom. He loved seeing Jason interact with the other children, observed the different styles of behavior management the teachers used, and recognized quickly how much the children enjoyed being read to.
But what really made the difference was when Jason started bringing his books from the family educator on visits to his father. He insisted on being read to, and he insisted on hearing the same books over and over. The father didn't really like being "forced" to read to his son, but he found he was enjoying having Jason sit on his lap during their reading time. He realized he was getting a lot from the experience, and that he and Jason were growing closer. Sharing stories was cementing their father-son relationship. They began visiting the public library, shopping for books together, and building "Jason's library" at the father's house. Reading together had helped an unsure father discover that there's a something to do "with' a preschooler.

Parents Make the Difference

Imagine a kid who practices batting and pitching a ball to his dad an hour every day all summer from the time the child is three until he is eight [ June, July, August = 120 hours a year for 5 years.]
Imagine a second kid-no practice, no training, has never slipped his hand in a base ball glove, has never run the bases, has never swung a bat, has almost never seen a full game played.
Imagine that they turn out the same day for Little League tryouts.
The skill level between these two young ball players is like the skill level in reading readiness of our incoming kindergartners.

2. Reading Foundation
a. A Committee of School Personnel, School Board Members and Community Members should explore the need for a Reading Foundation to Mobilize the Community to support Reading for children Birth to 21.
b. The School Board and Management Team shall explore the possible grants to support the 90% reading goal
c. The School Board and Management Team shall explore a public relations program to mobilize the community to support reading Birth to 21.

How to give your child a quarter million dollar gift

Introduction

Reasons for the goal

How to reach the
90% reading goal

District Data 2006-2007

The Rochester Schools
150 Wakefield Street Suite #8
Rochester, NH 03867
(603) 332-3678 (VOICE) (603) 335-7367 (FAX)
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