School-Wide Reading

We've started a new school-wide reading program at school, due to some teachers becoming inspired by a book study they took part in last year. I must admit that when I was told the we would do a school-wide Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) for 15 minutes everyday, I was a bit wary. I could only imagine the teeth gnashing from the students every time the bell rang to begin reading. I could see them not being able to read because they don't have books, or that they couldn't keep their eyes open long enough to read. I have always loved to read, and so I was really excited about the opportunity to get paid to read for 15 minutes. I told my students to think of it as a 15 minute break. No teachers talking, you aren't writing, and plus all of your classes were shortened to get this time. I must say that all of my fears and reservations were assuaged after the first week. many teachers went to th local used bookstore where they offer teachers FREE books every Saturday. We picked up probably 6 or 7 hundred! I have a small little library where students are able to grab a book if they "forget" theirs. The 15 minutes is awesome. I never am able to find the time to read like I want, and now I have a designated time to do it. Everyone is reading, and I love to see when the students find a book that they like, and are completely into it. It is a really interesting change, because many of our students have never really read a novel, especially if it was a novel that was not a part of required reading for an English class. Kids and teachers always have books with them, I see people reading at their duty stations, at the bus, and in the cafeteria. I think that the program is a success. I have almost finished One Hundred Days of Solitude, and I have another 4-5 books in the pipeline!