KIPP Spirit Middle School, located in Sunnyside, is kicking off its second annual Million Word Challenge with a goal of having all students collectively read 1 million words over the course of the 2011-2012 school year.
Mike Feinberg, the co-creator of KIPP, is excited for the students.
“The is the second year that the schools has taken on this Million Word Challenge, which means each student has to read a book a week,” said Feinberg. “But they successfully did it last year, and they are fired up for this year.”
Each grade level kicks off the challenge in its own unique way. KIPP Spirit 8th graders recently held a “Snuggle Up with a Book” event where they brought pajamas sleeping bags, and read the night away,” Feinberg said.
KIPP Spirit College Prep opened in 2006. Daphane Carter is the school leader. Spirit’s student population is 80 percent African-American, 20 percent Hispanic, and 93 percent low income, all usual predictors of poor TAKS test scores.
However, there is nothing “usual,” status quo or mediocre about KIPP Spirit.
Far from distracting students from their regular coursework, or hindering their ability to prepare for the annual state-mandated tests, the Million Word Challenge enhanced student performance all the way around, making a powerful statement against the notion that teachers have to spend the majority of their time teaching to the test.
“The oldest kids, the 8th graders, had 100 percent passage on the TAKS. Sixty percent of those received commended status. That’s unheard of,” Feinberg said.
“It shows that when the kids are that good you’ve got to have a love for what you’re doing; not a love for worksheets but a love for reading books. With that, when they see those tests, they know they can achieve.”
Aswad Walker
DEFENDER
