Kindergartners finished 100 books

Andrea Layden

To the editors:

My daughter started kindergarten this year at McCall Elementary School. Having lived in Society Hill for almost a decade, it was difficult to decide whether public or private school would be best for our family. But choosing our local public school has been one of the best decisions we have made.

Recently, we achieved something so significant in my daughter’s class that I wanted to share it with others.

At the beginning of the school year, the children started the 100 Book Challenge program. This program, which started in the Philadelphia schools, encourages children to read in school and at home with the goal of reading 100 books in the academic school year. The program helps to improve self-esteem and confidence of young aspiring readers and provides them with tools and resources to help them achieve in the future.

Recently, each of the 28 children in my daughter’s kindergarten class met the goal of reading 100 books! When I shared this with some friends, they truly didn’t believe that kindergarten children (especially many who did not even speak English when the school year started) actually read these books. However, after volunteering almost daily for this program, I assure you they have.  

My daughter Lucia, who is the youngest in her class, started off at the very beginning levels of reading and is now reading chapter books. I cannot begin to explain the pride I feel in our local children and families committing to and achieving such a goal. Seeing the growth among these five- and six-year-olds has made every hour I’ve invested worth it.