Reading considered top goal in Cape elementary schools

Educators nationwide have pegged reading as the most important factor in being a successful student. That is why every elementary school in the Cape Girardeau district listed reading among top goals for the 2001-02 school year.

"We go at reading at a million miles per hour, because reading is the key to everything," said Barbara Kohlfeld, principal of Barbara Blanchard Elementary.

At Blanchard Elementary, like schools throughout the district, students participate in a number of reading programs, including the Accelerated Reader, Reading Renaissance and Rolling Readers.

Accelerated Reader is a computer program used at each school that can be accessed by students of all reading levels. Frank Ellis, principal of Alma Schrader Elementary, said the program is helpful to students because it tests their comprehension of books.

All of the schools offer incentives for students who do well in reading. While some students win small prizes like candy, pencils or stickers, students at Alma Schrader strive to do their best for a chance to be the Principal of the Day.

Through one of the school's programs, students receive points. With a small amount of points, students are able to enjoy a soda at lunch, which is something normally not allowed at the school. When students reach 100 points, they are given gift certificates to local restaurants, and when students reach 300 points they are crowned Principal of the Day and actually get to make some pretty important decisions. Last year, when one girl ruled that her class would get 30 extra minutes of recess.

Ellis said the incentive programs have been a great success.