Date: Fri 19-Jun-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

schools-accelerated-reading

Full Text:

Incentives For Young Readers

(with cuts)

BY MICHELE HOGAN

Motivating kids to read has never been easier than with the new incentive

program offered to all sixth graders at Newtown Middle School.

Last Thursday the school cafeteria was filled with ice-cream-eating sixth

graders who had been reading and answering quizzes on their own time as part

of the program.

Piloted by Jeanne Bugay, media specialist, kids have been discovering new

authors and have been motivated to read, read, read.

With the program, students can select what they want to read from a wide

selection of high interest level books.

Each book is assigned a maximum point value, based on it's complexity. After

students read a book, they do a quiz on the computer to receive points based

on their comprehension of the book.

Every point a student receives translates into one raffle ticket for the big

draw. Books, kits and gift certificates were raffled off.

Mrs Bugay was grateful to the PTA for $100 donation to help with the

incentives.

Adam Moskowitz topped the sixth graders with 111 points earned by reading 13

books since the program started earlier this spring. He was followed by Tanya

Whippie, Tyler Dotter, Carrie Lipnick, Diana Bowen, Tony Ferrara, Emily

Allison, Jessica Gaboriault, Dave Kugielsky and Kyle Kirch, all with over 40

points earned from reading five books or more.

Cathy Cincogrono, middle school teacher, received a grant for $2,500 from

Educare Inc which the school used to purchase computer software and books for

the reading program.

When possible, they would like to expand the program to include seventh and

eighth grade students as well.

For now, the teachers would like to encourage all students to read, read,

read, all through the summer.