Student Reading Plus Parent Engagement

School Solutions

In an age of testing mandates, superintendents wrestle with how to boost reading skills while also instilling a love of reading in students. At the same time, there’s a constant struggle to engage parents, especially those who don’t normally get involved.

A growing number of school districts have begun using the One District, One Book program to address these challenges. Beginning last fall, the leaders of three districts became first-time users: Brad Reed of Unified School District 428 in Great Bend, Kan.; Steve Anderson of Lake Hamilton School District in Pearcy, Ark.; and George Steinhoff of Penn-Delco School District in Aston, Pa.

Districts work closely with Read to Them, a nonprofit family literacy organization, to plan and publicize the ODOB program, which can rally a community around reading by having all of the district’s elementary students read the same book at the same time at home with their parents.

Keys to Success

The three superintendents who are new program participants had their districts read The World According to Humphrey. Their recent experiences contribute to these tips for running a successful ODOB program:

• Start planning early. All three districts began planning months in advance of the launch of the simultaneous reading program.
• Build enthusiasm among principals and teachers. Bring all educators in the district into the loop early to help generate excitement.
• Identify funding sources. These can include Title I money, other district funds, and/or support from local businesses.
• Take a leadership role. All three superintendents read the book’s first chapter aloud via videocast to kick off the program.
• Organize a fun launch event. Schoolwide assemblies with videos and stuffed Humphrey dolls sparked student interest.
• Engage the community. Restaurants, stores and libraries often partner with ODOB programs, building community awareness.
• Keep communication flowing to parents and teachers. This helps maintain high levels of enthusiasm.

A Great Investment

The simultaneous book reading program exceeded the superintendents’ expectations, and all three plan to repeat it. They cited these benefits:

• Increased student interest in reading. Many students wanted to read other books in the Humphrey series.
• Links with other curriculum subjects. “The book extended itself into many other classroom activities,” Steinhoff said.
• Enhanced parent engagement. “It brought in parents who normally don’t participate,” said Anderson.
• Improved community involvement. Humphrey was literally “the talk of the town” and drew positive media coverage in each of the participating districts.

The superintendents see ODOB as a key component of their overall literacy program with Reed saying it “presents a perfect opportunity to re-establish parent/child connections over reading.” One District, One Book (readtothem.org) is a “value-added proposition that added real meat” to the overall literacy curriculum, Steinhoff said. “It’s hopefully the start of a new tradition.”