LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) – North Woods International School is celebrating the 19th year of Jumpstart Read for the Record. The event has elementary students reading a featured book in effort to have as many kids as possible learn through and enjoy reading.
“We read the same book on the same day as everyone around the world. We’re trying to set a world record for the most people reading the same story on the same day,” says School District of La Crosse title 1 teacher Sara DePaolo.
One tradition that is part of the event is Logan High School students grouping with elementary students to read the book with them. DePaolo says this helps the students become inspired to read because most of them look up to the local high schoolers.
“They have their big buddy that goes around to each of the stands with them to read the story. This is so they can hear the story and then a teacher’s not taking a whole class at a time. They go in a group of two or three students with a high schooler and share the story together,” says DePaolo
One of the high schoolers is Sophie Schmitz, who went to North Woods International School as a kid. She says it’s great to interact with kids who are in the same spot she was a few years ago.
“It’s a lot of fun. I remember when I was in elementary school and the high schoolers used to come and read to us. They were my biggest inspiration so it’s amazing that I get to come back and do the same for them,” says Schmitz.
The event is done as a book walk behind the school. North Woods International is doing it this way because they say it is a more interactive way for the students to participate in the reading event.
“This is a way to get them to enjoy reading. Getting them out to be active with the story is just another way to do it. Not everybody likes to sit down and just read a book. This way they can enjoy the story as they’re moving and being outside,” says DePaolo.
The school says over 250 students are participating in this year’s Jumpstart reading event.
According to the Jumpstart website, schools from all 50 U.S. states and 11 other countries participated in the Jumpstart Read for the Record event in 2023.
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