Karamu High School's Rewarding Reading programme

“Reading is a perfectly normal activity, lots of people do it, and they even get pleasure from doing it”

This is the message that Jan Clothier, Librarian and Teacher at Karamu High School, a Decile 4 secondary school in Hastings, wants to get across to all students in the school. And, thanks partly to the school's innovative and well supported Rewarding Reading programme, the message is getting through.

When each student starts school in Year 9, they are given their own Reading Record, to be kept in the library. Students record every book they read, and are eligible for an award after each 40 books read. The first, Pewter award is gained after reading any 40 books of the student's choice, but after that, things get more challenging, and link into the Wide Reading requirements of NCEA. For the Bronze award (80 books in total read), students have to include an auto/biography; a pre-1970 book; a NZ author; a book from a Maori perspective and one from another culture. Then comes Silver, at 120 books, and finally the Gold award, at 180 books, each with similar challenges.

The school felt that if students could be rewarded for sports achievements, they should also be rewarded for reading achievements. Each award is presented formally to the student at assembly with prizes, such as $5.00 canteen vouchers for Pewter, and book vouchers at the higher levels.

Rewarding Reading works because of school-wide support. The Principal discusses it at assembly, and provides a budget for rewards. The school report has a section to comment on personal reading habits. All English teachers promote the programme, and encourage reading, with a focus on silent reading by all, including the teacher, during library times. Some teachers also offer individual rewards for the class. There are even assembly spot prizes, eg all kids who have read more than 5 books go in a draw for a $5.00 canteen voucher. "Sports jocks" also talk about books at assembly, for example a top student surfer talking about "books I read when there are no waves." This all helps keeps the programme in students' minds.

As a result of this and other school initiatives, there is a thriving reading culture in the school. Reading is no longer seen as a "nerdy" thing to do. Students of all abilities read, and are proud to receive their awards. Library borrowing has increased substantially, creative writing is better and the level of students' vocabulary has improved. The school now has a Scholarship English class, after many years without one, and students have gained scholarships. Well done Karamu!

Karamu High School's Rewarding Reading programme was planned and developed at an in-service day, led by English teachers Helen Almey and Tracy Taylor, with the encouragement and support of HOD Jo Morris, and Librarian Jan Clothier. For more information about the school's initiatives to develop a positive reading culture see this paper. For some further ideas about reading challenges from Australia, see this blog posting.