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Poughkeepsie City School District

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Learn about the Poughkeepsie Reading Challenge

Poughkeepsie Reading Challenge

One district. Five months. One million cumulative minutes read. The Poughkeepsie Reading Challenge is a districtwide initiative encouraging all students, from pre-K to high school seniors, to read daily. There will be awards and recognitions celebrating the top individual readers and the grades and schools who read the most total minutes. The goal is to read at least one million minutes before June 30, and the district is planning a blowout bash to celebrate the feat. But the hope and belief is that, by incorporating reading into a daily routine to a greater extent, students will improve their vocabulary and comprehension to achieve academic success and grow a lifelong love of reading.

"Every page counts. Collectively, we can do this. So let's get ready to read." - Superintendent Gregory Mott

What is myON?

Students will track their reading through the myON digital library app available to them through ClassLink.

Through myON, students have on-demand access to more than 7,000 digital books that can be matched to each individual student’s interests and grade and reading levels.

For the youngest learners, the app can read stories out loud with each word highlighted as it’s read for students to follow along.

 

How will students be recognized?

Each student’s reading time will be tracked and top readers will be recognized on a monthly basis and as they hit significant minute milestones, as well as at the end of the year.

Not only will the readers with the most minutes be celebrated, but also those who are showing the most improvement or consistent participation. Cumulative totals for each grade in each school building, as well as the school buildings as a whole, will also be tracked and recognized with monthly and year-end prizes and awards.

Because time is what will be measured, our youngest learners can compete on an equal playing field as our oldest and readers of all levels can be celebrated.

One District. One Million Minutes Read.

FAQs

  • The Poughkeepsie Reading Challenge officially kicks off in February.

  • The Reading Challenge is for all grade levels, from pre-K to high school seniors. Because time is what will be measured, our youngest learners can compete on an equal playing field as our oldest and readers of all levels can be celebrated.

  • Not only will the readers with the most minutes be celebrated, but also those who are showing the most improvement or consistent participation. Cumulative totals for each grade in each school building, as well as the school buildings as a whole, will also be tracked and recognized with monthly and year-end prizes and awards. The exact prizes that will be given out are still to be determined, but you can bet trophies will be involved.

  • Yes, the district is planning a blowout bash to celebrate reaching our one million minute goal and all the individual accomplishments by our readers. That will come late in the school year and include various prizes and rewards, in addition to fun and entertainment.

  • Students will track their reading through the myON digital library app available to them through ClassLink.

  • While the district encourages students to read in any way they feel comfortable and through any medium they prefer, for the purposes of this challenge and tracking student progress, reading on myOn are the only minutes that will be counted.

  • While this will not be a graded assignment, classtime will be made for students to read and embrace this initiative. 

  • Leading up to the launch of the Poughkeepsie Reading Challenge teachers and students will receive refresher training on how to use the program.