NDP Reads offers activities, extra credit

.

Last 3 stories in News

• Homecoming week, dance are overwhelming success - November 11, 2011
• Uniform skirt could make comeback - September 26, 2011
• Newspaper staff wins second General Excellence award - September 15, 2011

Other stories that might interest you...

• More titles, theme, extra credit new for next year
• Technologies go head to head in popularity war
• Banned Books Week advocates no restrictions on expression of ideas
• Spring break: time of relaxation mixed with reading
• English Department changes writing standards

August 18, 2010 • By Amy Medeiros  
Filed under News

   With the start of the new school year, Notre Dame Prep also begins the second year of its school-wide reading program, NDP Reads. The goal of the program is to promote reading by all students, according to Mrs. Lyn Richmond, English department chair, and one way this year is to offer extra credit in English for reading one of the novels and participating in a book talk.

   Each year, the program focuses on a certain theme. Last year, the book was Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. The book focused on the education of children in Pakistan, especially that of girls. This year, the theme is “Celebrate Life” and students have four books from which to choose.

  The books are Dreamcatcher by Stephen King, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards, Riding the Bus with My Sister by Rachel Simon and The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon. All of the selections feature a character with a physical or mental challenge, including Down syndrome and autism, tying them to the theme of “Celebrate Life.”

   In addition to offering more options to students this year, NDP Reads 2010/2011 will offer more activities and ways to engage students, Mrs. Richmond said.

  To engage more students, the English department has teamed up with the school library and the Saints for Life club. By doing so, all three hope to be able to bring a wider range of activities to the school, such as Christian service-type activities, reading discussions, and possibly bringing in Rachel Simon for an author talk. Ms. Simon contacted Librarian Lillian Vancel after reading The Seraphim‘s NDP Reads article posted online in May.

   Also, the English Department offered extra credit to any students who read one of the books over the summer and completed an assignment for it. Those who did so will be featured on posters promoting the program.

   Students who did not take advantage of this opportunity during the summer may still get extra credit if they read one of the books and attend a discussion about it, according to Mrs. Richmond. The dates will be announced at a later date.

Tags:

 Email This Post        Print This Post