My students are academically achieving more than students I have had in the past. The Research Labs/100 Book Challenge combination allows my learners to read, conference, write, reflect and present on an ongoing basis. I see through relevant assessments and discussions with the students an amazing growth in not only their tremendous amount of stamina, which has helped to develop their reading comprehension and engagement, but the way they can converse on specific topics and utilize appropriate task or thematic vocabulary with ease and nonchalance!
—Danielle Chiaro, 7th Grade Language Arts Teacher, Jersey City School District, NJ
The reading atmosphere at our school has drastically changed since implementing Action 100. We read everywhere. Kids and teachers are excited about reading. The two most important pieces are the amount of time that students spend reading and the conferencing that takes place between teachers and students. Parents that are reinforcing this reading at home have said that it has truly changed their students’ lives. One of our parents that has a student with a disability stopped by to tell me that for the first time in her son’s life, he is able to carry on a conversation with her. She truly believes that it is because of all the vocabulary that he has been exposed to in the books he reads every day.
—Angela Gordon, Principal, Oscar J. Pope Elementary, FL
I can’t tell you how important it is for classroom teachers to ‘check’ student independent reading levels. From experience and tons of conversations with parents—independent reading MUST be fast, fun and easy. We lose kids quickly when they attempt to read books that are too hard. The most effective way to make sure this is done is to build in teacher/student conference time daily. This way, teachers are able to assess students every day and monitor their just right levels. One of the biggest parts of 100BC that relates directly to students making progress in reading. VOLUME + JUST RIGHT LEVELS + TEACHER/STUDENT FREQUENT CONFERENCES = reading success!
—Peter Stewart, Principal, Horace Mann Elementary School, NY
[100 Book Challenge] is the only program that gives teachers the confidence to work with students one on one.
—Assistant Principal, Rose Warren Elementary School, NV