Beginning Feb. 3, through March 26, Mountain High students and staff will spend the last 10 minutes of 4th period every Monday – Wednesday participating in silent sustained reading (SSR). Prior to Feb. 3, every student enrolled in an MHS English class had the opportunity to check out a library book or magazine, and every teacher was encouraged to obtain his/her reading material of choice.
“The Owl Reading Experience” is owl-themed because owls are often considered symbols of knowledge and wisdom. On Feb. 3, staff members wore t-shirts imprinted with an owl image and the slogan, “I Read.” Students will have the opportunity to win t-shirts of their own by submitting videos about what they’ve been reading.
“I’m excited about this program because I believe in reading,” said Cheryl Murdock, Mountain High’s librarian. “I think kids’ lives can be better if they read, and people of all ages can find joy in reading when they are given consistent time to stay with a book.”
Murdock developed The Owl Reading Experience in collaboration with Dustin Hawkins, “Hawk.” Hawk is an administrative intern at MHS who shares Murdock’s passion about the value of reading.
“I feel like reading is the greatest coping skill there is,” said Hawk. “If students become readers, they gain power in their lives. By sitting down for ten minutes and setting an intention, they’re going to gain a skill. Pretty soon, you get good at reading, and you can escape into another world!”
Murdock describes reading as both a window and a mirror. “We’re excited for kids to see themselves reflected in their books and for them to look through a window to experience things they’ve never seen.”
Murdock appreciates Hawk’s passion about reading because it helps create a vision and culture. “Hawk helps them see that we read at Mountain High, it’s cool, and we like it,” Murdock said, “and it’s so great that our administration is giving us time.”
Two days in, Mountain High students shared mixed reviews about their late morning SSR time. “I love it because it gets the ball rolling,” said Cecil, a senior. Cecil is reading a sci-fi novel called Harrow the Night by Tamsyn Muir and said having reading time in school encourages more reading at home.
“I love reading,” agreed Raihiti, a senior who hopes to become a teacher. “I think this program can help people who don’t like to read learn to explore difference genres and learn how books can make us feel.”
Finn, another MHS senior, said he likes reading but lacks motivation. “There are a lot of things I’d like to read, and I can get through the pile more easily when there is time set aside.”
By contrast, Edith, a junior, has misgivings about The Owl Reading Experience, saying she would rather be invited to read than compelled.
“I also wish were allowed to use audio books or digital media instead of having to turn pages of an actual book,” Edith said. “Not everyone can stick their head in a book and read, especially at this school. Everyone learns differently.”
“And ten minutes isn’t enough,” added Cecil. “You can’t get immersed in a book if you don’t have enough time.”
As The Owl Reading Experience continues, Murdock and Hawk will gather data about the project to measure its impact. On the front end, they’ve already administered a reading attitude survey which was completed by 78 students, and they will resurvey students after spring break to look for changes in their feelings about SSR.
“We really hope students will learn to enjoy reading,” Murdock said. “As students participate, they will not only develop greater attention spans and more vocabulary. They may also discover that they are actual readers!”
