The 100 Book Challenge

Objective: To create an engaging, year-long reading initiative that fosters a love of reading, encourages exploration across genres, and integrates with the work of all Impact Teams at Cosmos Primary.

1. Vision & Goals

The 100 Book Challenge is more than just a number; it's a journey. Our primary goals are to:

• Cultivate a vibrant, school-wide reading culture.

• Encourage students to read for pleasure and explore diverse genres and authors.

• Provide a platform for Impact Teams to curate content and engage students through their unique lenses.

• Celebrate perseverance, personal achievement, and the joy of storytelling.

2. Core Challenge Structure

• The Goal: Each student in Grade 1 and above is challenged to read 100 books throughout the academic year.

• Flexibility & Differentiation: The definition of "book" is flexible to ensure inclusivity. Any book checked out from the Learnarium counts, including picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, and audiobooks.

• Foundation: This overarching goal provides the main structure, with progress tracked centrally by the Learnarium team.

3. The Role of Mini-Challenges (Curated by Impact Teams)

This is where the challenge comes to life. Mini-challenges are themed reading lists or tasks that count towards the 100-book goal and add a layer of gamification.

• Structure: Each Impact Team will curate 1-2 "mini-challenges" per semester. A mini-challenge consists of reading 5-10 books from a specific theme.

• Engagement: Completing a mini-challenge earns students a special sticker, which the Learnarium team will add to their official certificate tracker.

4. Tracking & Awarding Achievement

• Centralized Tracking: At the start of the year, the Learnarium team will create an official "100 Book Challenge Certificate" for every student (Grade 1 and up). These certificates, which have a tracker on the reverse side, are kept securely filed in the Learnarium.

• Automated Updates: The tracking process is managed entirely by the Learnarium team. Once a week, the Librarian will pull reports from the Koha system and update each student's certificate. Any book that has been checked out and returned is automatically counted as read.

• Student Interaction: To maintain engagement, the LEC and Librarian will ask students brief comprehension and reflection questions about their books during check-out times whenever possible.

• Completion & Verification: The Learnarium team monitors the trackers. Once a certificate reaches 100 books, the team will notify the classroom teacher and prepare the certificate for awarding.

• Final Award: The Learning Experiences Curator (LEC) will officially sign the completed certificate. It will then be formally presented to the student during the next school-wide "Learning Celebrations Parade."

• Ultimate Recognition: All students who complete the challenge will also have their name added to the "100 Club Wall of Fame" in the Learnarium and receive an invitation to an exclusive end-of-year "Reading Celebration Party."

5. Implementation & Roles

• Learnarium Team (LEC & Librarian):

  • Act as the overall coordinators for the challenge.

  • Design, print, and manage the official "100 Book Challenge Certificates," keeping them filed and secure.

  • Conduct the weekly tracking updates for all students using Koha reports.

  • Engage students with informal questions about their reading.

  • Manage the final signing of certificates and coordinate the presentation at the "Learning Celebrations Parade."

  • Maintain the "Wall of Fame" and organize the end-of-year party.

• Impact Teams:

  • Collaboratively design their mini-challenges and curated book lists before the start of each semester.

  • Provide the Learnarium Team with their finalized challenge details for promotion and system updates.

• Classroom Teachers:

  • Champion the challenge within their classrooms, generating daily excitement.

  • Encourage students to visit the Learnarium and discuss their reading.

  • Receive notifications from the Learnarium team upon student completion and celebrate these milestones in the classroom.

  • Communicate with parents about the challenge and their child's progress.

6. Launch & Communication Plan

• Staff Launch: Introduce the finalized plan at a staff meeting one week before the student launch to ensure all teachers understand the structure and their role.

• Student Launch: A high-energy school assembly featuring a fun skit about a "Reading Quest," an explanation of the challenge, and a reveal of the first set of mini-challenges.

• Parent Communication: Distribute the "Student & Parent Guide" via the school's communication platform and feature the challenge in the first Learnarium newsletter.

   Key Components of the 100 Book Reading Challenge

1. Program Initialization

• Staff introduction meeting prior to launch

• School assembly for student launch with a "Reading Quest" skit

• Creation and filing of official certificates for each Grade 1+ student

• Distribution of parent communication guides

2. Core Reading Process

• Students select and check out books from the Learnarium

• Informal comprehension questions asked during checkout when possible

• Book returns automatically counted in the tracking system

• Weekly certificate updates by the Learnarium team using Koha reports

3. Mini-Challenge Integration

• Impact Teams curate 1-2 themed mini-challenges per semester

• Each mini-challenge requires reading 5-10 books on a specific theme

• Completion earns a special sticker on the student's certificate

• Mini-challenges count toward the overall 100-book goal

4. Achievement Recognition

• Classroom recognition facilitated by teacher notifications

• Formal certificate presentation at school-wide "Learning Celebrations Parade"

• Name added to the "100 Club Wall of Fame" in the Learnarium

• Invitation to exclusive end-of-year "Reading Celebration Party"

5. Responsibility Distribution

• Learnarium Team: Overall program coordination, tracking, and recognition

• Impact Teams: Content curation through themed mini-challenges

• Classroom Teachers: Daily encouragement, milestone celebrations, and parent communication