One School, One Book: At Mayfield Jr. High School, it is a grant-funded project designed to engage students, their families and the school community in fostering a love of reading.
During the month of October, all 7th and 8th grade students will be reading the novel, “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio. It is the story of Auggie, “an ordinary kid with an extraordinary face” who is attending a new school and has to “convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, despite appearances.”
“Our teachers in our school selected a book and a copy is given to each student to read at home as a family,” said MCSD Superintendent Christopher Harper. “Through the weeks, our school will be exploring the book in their classrooms with their classmates.
“Reading a book together brings the added joy of building a sense of community among students, parents, teachers and staff. We are reinforcing reading and reading instruction while increasing parent involvement, bridging the home to school connection. Together we want to be a community of readers!”
As part of One School, One Book, every junior high school student receives a book and every family reads at home throughout the month. Activities at school will support and enrich the shared reading experience.
At home, students and their families are encouraged to participate in conversation starters provided in a reading calendar, which they may also use as a bookmark. Activities for each of five sections of the book are designed to help readers make personal connections to the story and messages of “Wonder.”
“National Read Aloud to a Child Week is observed during October, so our One School, One Book project is especially timely,” said Superintendent Harper. “With a theme this year of ‘Off On an Adventure,’ Read Aloud Week, which is observed Oct. 23 to 29, emphasizes the importance of reading aloud to children and encourages families to participate. At Mayfield, we are excited to be going off on an adventure with One School, One Book!”
Published in 2012, “Wonder” is a #1 New York Times Bestseller that has received multiple awards and honors.
