Welcome to Watertown, N.Y., the pioneer for Read to Them’s “Year Round Reader” implementation of One District, One Book. Six schools in Watertown will read three books in 2014 – starting with Betty Birney’s The World According to Humphrey and Jean Craighead George’s My Side of the Mountain. Under the guidance and leadership of Assistant Superintendent, Mary Margaret-Zehr, Read to Them is bringing the culture of literacy to 2500 families in Watertown. Ms. Zehr has been tireless in currying and building local support for their One District, One Book initiative – rallying support and publicity from local print, radio, and television outlets. With support from the Cornell School of Continuing Education, assistant Jessica Stearns organized a family literacy night – complete with details and artifacts from Humphrey and My Side of the Mountain – that participants called “the most successful school community event in recent memory.” Explore the links and resources below to see how they did it and see what they’re experiencing in Watertown – an entire community of readers. “When a whole district reads a book, there’s a lot to talk about.” And they get to do it all again in the fall! Stay tuned.
Explore Watertown’s One District, One Book experience:
- Watertown’s ODOB Webpage
- WWNY Interview introducing ODOB kickoff in Watertown
- Watertown Daily Times article outlining ODOB initiative (Click here for the PDF)
- Hotline 1240 WATN Radio Interview
- WWNY Progress Report Interview
- Watertown’s The World According to Humphrey Community Video
- Watertown’s My Side of the Mountain Community Video
- Watertown Daily Times article introducing new ODOB titles
What They’re Reading
K – 4
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5 – 6
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One District, One Book Begins in Watertown
Original Source: One District, One Book Begins in Watertown
One District, One Book: A Progress Report
Original Source: One District, One Book: A Progress Report