READ READ READ!!!!!!!

Parents and Students,

The results of the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test (measuring vocabulary and comprehension) for my four classes show that on average, our students are four grade levels behind in Reading. While this is commonplace throughout the district and in other urban areas, we've never been common folk at Paul. We tend to go above and beyond as MERIT scholars. Four years is a sizable gap, but one that can certainly be closed with hard work and determination. The key ingredient here is encouraging independent reading at home. As a child's reading increases, so too will his or her vocabulary, fluency (rate at which the student reads), and comprehension.

Let's make sure that we're doing our best to read for at least 1 hour each day. This doesn't have to take place all at once. Read an article in the paper, 10-15 pages in a book, and then a movie review or a comic strip. Read for fun. Find something that interests you.... and when you've lost interest, put the book down and find another. Since your reading abilities depend on it, make sure to pick books that fit your own needs.

Let's show everyone that we are good, strong readers in the 9th grade academy!