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Extreme book club pulls students in

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

cpastor@tampatrib.com

Published: June 24, 2009

FOREST HILLS - Like other book clubs, the group reads a common title and gathers over munchies to discuss thoughts, questions and interpretations.

Unlike other book clubs, members meet at a middle school and range in age from sixth grade to adult.

Extreme Read Warrior Style, named for the Adams Middle mascot, brings students, parents and teachers together once a year to talk about books they agreed to read together. It started as a project for eighth-graders four years ago and grew into a school-wide effort that recently was singled out as one of the best ways to involve parents in the Hillsborough County school district.

"It's nice to see the parents and kids in a non-threatening environment," said media specialist Abby Dyer.

No grades are given, and participation is voluntary. But Dyer hears students bragging to others about what they are reading and receives evaluations from parents asking if they can do it more often. They like to know what their children are reading, Dyer said, which can get difficult after they leave elementary school.

About 150 people participated in Extreme Read this year. Each group read one of five books that Dyer and teaching teams chose, partially based on what would be available at the school's February Scholastic book fair.

They had a month to complete the book before assembling in the Adams cafeteria one night last spring. They split into groups for roundtable discussions, where they came up with four points they learned from their reading.

They reconvened in the cafeteria to share those points with the other group and eat pizza and salad. Teachers help lead the discussions, but everyone gets an equal say about what they think is important.

Extreme Read was among the honorees last month at an All Stars of Education reception and awards ceremony that the school district and its nonprofit volunteer arm, SERVE, hosted.

The Adams book club was named as one of two outstanding parent involvement program winners. Other winners from area schools included parent, student and community volunteers, Kelly Hangen, the SERVE coordinator of the year, from Bryant Elementary; Peter Gaumond, Lowry Elementary; James Chapman, Pierce Middle; Brandon Proctor, Gaither High; Kim Birnbaum, Martinez Middle; and Kim Willis, Adams Middle.

WHAT THEY READ

The Extreme Read books this year were:

"Fire from the Rock," Sharon Draper

"Every Soul a Star," Wendy Mass

"I,Q: Independence Hall," Roland Smith

"The Boy Who Dared," Susan Campbell Bartoletti

"Go Big or Go Home," Will Hobbs

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (727) 451-2343.

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