Riverview students read as part of a worldwide effort last Friday

Ken Johnston

Improving literacy while having fun was the thrust of the World’s Largest Classroom Reading Event and Riverview school of Rainy River was a part of it.
Teacher Debbie Wagner signed up her grade 1-2 class to participate in the “Read for 2003” sponsored by Scholastic Book Club.
This marked the fourth year the event was held world wide and last year about 7 million students participated. This was Riverview’s first year, but participation was good as many students were joined by their parents and/or grandparents.
The event was held world wide at noon on Friday, however Riverview held theirs at 11 a.m. that day.
The students kicked things off by taking “The Reading Pledge.” In it they promise to have respect for themselves, others and for the power of books. They also agree to make books a part of their lives and to share things they learn from them with others.
The class then teamed up with both family and classmates and read to one another for 33 and 1/3 minutes.
As part of the event the class the students submitted to the Read for 2003 website a paper on why reading is important.
“Why is Reading Important?”
Without books, your brain wouldn’t grow.
If you can’t read, you wouldn’t be able to help your kids with their homework.
If you can’t read, you won’t be able to write.
If you can’t read, you would have trouble shopping and figuring out labels and prices.
If you can’t read, you couldn’t read recipes.
“If you can read...”
You can read labels.
You can help your kids with homework.
If you can read, you can write.
If you can read,your brain will grow.
With a good book, you can find out lots of interesting things.