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ProvoREADS
A report released in November by the National Endowment for the Arts entitled To Read or Not to Read: A Question of National Consequence states that reading for pleasure correlates strongly with academic achievement. Children and teenagers who read for pleasure on a daily or weekly basis score better on reading and writing tests than infrequent readers. Further, those who read for pleasure are more likely to engage in positive civic and individual activities. Sadly, though, fewer and fewer children and teens are reading for pleasure, and reading scores for adults are even deteriorating, most notably among the best-educated groups.
ProvoREADS is a joint initiative involving the Provo City School District and the Provo City Library. The program is designed to promote literacy, to broaden and deepen an appreciation of reading, and to foster a sense of community by bringing people together reading a common book.
This year’s book selection, Kate DiCamillo’s Newbery Medal-winning The Tale of Despereaux, can serve as an excellent springboard for discussions of such universal themes as friendship, family, loyalty, tolerance, and love.
Throughout the 2008-2009 school year there will be various activities connected to the project including book talks, author visits, school contests and assemblies, and a night at the movies. The school district has purchased several hundred copies of the book and has distributed them to all of the schools in the district. Each school has also received several Spanish copies as well. The goal is to make the community aware of ProvoREADS, to get a book into as many homes as possible, and to encourage community members and families to read and talk about a little mouse called Despereaux.
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