Library News December 2014
@ Irma Marsh Middle School
TCU Men's Basketball Visits IMMS to Promote Reading
December 10, 2014, was an exciting day at our school. Coach Matt Read and his assistant, Thomas Montigel, brought six players from TCU’s undefeated team to promote the Ticket to Reading Rewards (TTRR). Charles Hill, Mike Williams, Hudson Price, Brandon Parrish, Kenrich Williams, and Chris Washburn shared the influence and importance of reading in their lives. They gave examples of books they had enjoyed reading, such as: the Twilight series, Holes, The Berenstain Bears, the Harry Potter series and Captain Underpants. Special guest, Super Frog was also there to help cheer everyone on in a fun game of “Knockout” with some lucky students chosen from the audience of over a thousand people. After a lively answer-the-question to win free posters, the team all stayed for photo ops. for our students and staff. TCU also provided 20 free tickets to a basketball game this month for our Bridges club in association with the Ticket to Reading Rewards program.
Ticket to Reading Rewards
TTRR is a program of the National Association of Basketball Coaches Foundation (the men’s college basketball coaches in collaboration with national business leaders). The program is for Middle School students only (grades 6-8) and is the leading reading motivational program in the country for Middle School students. TTRR was started in 2002 by Arne Duncan (now U.S. Secretary of Education) at Chicago Public Schools, with the aid of the NABC Foundation. Results in Chicago have shown that students can gain nearly an extra grade level in reading by participating in the program. The TTRR website is www.tickettoreadingrewards.org.
Equally important, this is a fun, motivational program that uses the impact of college basketball to challenge students to read up to 25 books outside the classroom. Rewards are achieved for each 5 books read and include: free annual subscription to Sports Illustrated for KIDS, cinch bags, medals, mini hoop-backboard-ball sets and water bottle with carabineer. In addition to these prizes all participants will be entered in a raffle for free posters and books every month.
The TOP READING STUDENT in Irma Marsh Middle School will receive a special trophy from TICKET and the NABC Foundation and additional prizes from TCU. Irma Marsh will also compete for a TOP READING SCHOOL trophy against other schools of its size.
Students have received information on how to enter the contest in their Reading classes and can track their progress on library bulletin boards. Reading teachers can track their students on a shared google doc.
For more information please contact:
Irma Marsh Middle School—Doeni Onco, 817-252-2251, oncod@castleberryisd.net]