South Suburban School Sets Record For Reading

May 18, 2011 10:17 AM

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RICHTON PARK, Ill. (WBBM) – A south suburban elementary school is being announced Tuesday as first in the nation, if not the world, in the number of minutes students spent reading this school year.

As WBBM Newsradio 780’s Bernie Tafoya reports, the 500 students at Sauk Elementary School in Richton Park read more than 1.5 million minutes this school year, thus beating all other school districts in the country.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780′s Bernie Tafoya reports

Matteson School District 162 Supt. Dr. Blondean Davis said reading scores have skyrocketed along with that level of reading.

“It’s been kind of a badge of honor at the school to see it – ‘Well, what did you read today; how many chapters did you read today?’” Davis said. “It’s read throughout the school, and a couple of months ago, we were chosen as one of the six schools in the nation that had read over a million minutes.”

Dr. Davis says the honor, bestowed by Scholastic Books, is wonderful. But she hopes the children’s desire to read continues long after this school year.

South Suburban School Sets Record For Reading

Dan

This is no big deal it amounts to 3000 minutes per student which is really 50 hours per student for the school year. Think about it if you read the newspaper for a hlf hour per day you read 10950 minutes. Most students should read at least and hour per day at least and this will get you 10800 minutes in the school year of 180 days. Think about it.

dee

So it’s no big deal that they are being acknowledged for reaching a goal, but if they were shooting someone then we want to know all the info. Can’t win for losing….

dan

Does anybody really find this unusual?
GO Southside

NOW WE SHOULD REWARD STUDENTS FOR READING?
WOW, IT IS PART OF SCHOOL.
Kurt

I am thinking it was some sort of contest/marketing things seeing as Scholastic Books was involved with “bestowing the honor”.
hateignorantpeople

These students did a great job. Think about it, they didn’t have to do this extra reading outside of school, but they did it. Most kids would rather be playing, but these kids were reading. And, I’m sure not all of the students participated, so your numbers are inaccurate Dan.