Dear Students and Parents,

I am very passionate about reading literacy.  One thing I have learned in my career talking heart to heart with students who are struggling academically is that poor reading skills is a common factor among them.  I strongly believe the only way to become really good at reading and comprehending what we read is through practice.  Reading is a skill; just like basketball skills, if we have a good coach who teaches ‘how’; then it is up to us to practice to become flawless at those kinesthetic moves and shots. The only way to get better at reading is to … READ.

Our reading and writing programs at Selma Middle School are of a rigorous nature with high expectations.  I am proud of our students as they routinely rise to higher and higher expectations of performance. 

Each Selma Middle School student is required to read for 50 minutes each day in their Reading Lab.  I regard Reading Lab as being a sacred time for reading without distraction or interruption.  We have 2 simple rules for Reading Lab.  Students may: 1) read or 2) Pretend like they are reading.

Now, I know this will surprise some folks but sometimes when you ask a young adolescent to do something they don’t want to do, they get a little huffy or defiant.  I know, that’s probably not ‘politically correct’ but I’ve never been accused of being vague.  So, in order for us to offer a way to hold students accountable for continuously improving their reading skills we have Accelerated Reader Quizzes for nearly every novel imaginable.

Here’s how the whole reading requirement works:

1. Students read novels of their own choice, interest, and reading level.

2. When they are finished reading the book, they write a “short book summary” as outlined by their English teacher.

3. The student then takes the summary home, engages in a conversation about the book with their parent or guardian (to encourage positive communication and engage parents in their child’s work) 

4. The parent reviews the summary and signs it.

5. The next day the student has the English teacher initial the summary sheet. This sheet will act as their ‘pass’ to go to the library during their reading lab to take the Accelerated Reader Quiz on that book and check out a new library book.

Students are required to earn 25 Accelerated Reader points over each 9 Week grading period.  This counts as 10% of their total English/Language Arts grade.

To assist your child in selecting a book, you will find a list of books, many of these are available in our school library.  You will also find a list of our Accelerated Reader Quizzes.  If we do not have a copy of one of the books listed, yet we do have the Accelerated Reader Quiz, feel free to obtain this book through another source and the child will still have the opportunity to read this book and take a quiz for AR points.

May each day be a literary festival for you,

Dr. Alice A. Mehaffey