PROGRAM OVERVIEW

JUST READ IT! is a PTA home reading program for Kindergarten through Fifth grade students, in which adults and students work together to build a positive attitude toward reading. This program promotes reading for pleasure. Those students who choose to participate in this program need to record the number of minutes they read at home and turn in the reading sheet in to the school office. They will receive various awards from the PTA depending on which level they have reached.

The program will begin on September 14, 1998 and end on January 11, 1999.

A DROP-EVERYTHING-AND-READ (DEAR) time is part of the program. Once a month, for 30 minutes, everyone in the building will stop what they are doing and read. These minutes will then be applied to each participating student's record sheet for that month. You do not need to do this -- the volunteers that record the minutes will do this.

Those students who have earned their card (3^rd level) will receive a special treat once a month on Card Day.

We are committed to helping your child succeed, so please let us know if you or child needs any help or encouragement along the way.

Explain the program to your child and demonstrate how to fill in the date, book, and number of minutes on the sheet.

Choose appropriate reading material for your child. This may include books, magazines, newspapers, etc.

Decide on a regular reading time and place to read.

Start reading and turn in the first time sheet by the Cut-off Date, or at least once a month. Please be environmentally concious -- if you only have a couple of lines filled up, please wait to turn in the sheet.

Encourage your child to read on his/her own, aloud or silently. Some time should be spent by the adult discussing what has been read to make sure the child is comprehending what he/she is reading.

Your time sheet may show last year's date. We need to use up the sheets left over from last year before ordering new ones.

The adult and student will be responsible for keeping a log of the books read and the minutes spent reading.

Please record all time in minutes and as accurately as possible. For example, 14 minutes of reading should be recorded as 14 and not rounded up to 15. We keep all reading sheets that are turned in, and we also keep a running total.

Please be sure the sheets contain the needed information. Record sheets -with missing information will be to the student for completion! Signatures are a MUST!

Return the record sheets by the Cut-off Dates listed in order for your child to receive his/her award on the following Award Date. They need to be turned in at least once a month. We will not accept any record sheet over two months old. Return record sheets and pick up new ones in the school office any day of the week during recess or before or after school.

The enclosed record sheet is the only sheet acceptable. Please do not use notebook paper, etc. It is much easier for our bookkeeping to use only this form.

The following chart shows the Cut-off Dates (always on a Monday) for turning in reading sheets before the next awards are given out and the Awards Dates (usually on Friday).

Let's all help motivate and encourage our children to love reading!!! If you have any questions, please direct your calls to the school (204-2950), and one of us will be glad to help you.