Recently, I dropped off more than one hundred certificates for our principal, Mat McRae, to sign for winners in our high school's March Into Reading challenge. For the contest, students could draw or paint a new cover for their favorite book; create a book out of metal, wood, clay, or the medium of their choice; or create a graphic design that promotes reading. When all the entries were in, we had nearly three hundred projects to judge, out of a school of 650 students. Our principal's response to the overwhelming participation in our school was, "It's all about the leadership."
Teachers promoted the competition in their classes, and some worked side-by-side with students, assisting with the multimedia creations. In our school, literacy, reading, and library activities are threaded throughout lessons, driving cross-curricular interdisciplinary projects:
- Students in AP World History classes read How Do You Kill 11 Million People? Why the Truth Matters More Than You Think by Andy Andrews, examined genocide that exists in the world today, and then used Prezi to inform classmates about these atrocities.
- Composition students read Andrews' book, along with The Hunger Games, The Lottery, and Schindler's