Ponca City schools start community book club

Starting Jan. 5, the Ponca City Public School district will embark on a community-wide book club called One Book, One District.

Five of the district’s elementary schools and The Marland Children’s Home will participate. Every family will receive a copy of the same book. The book this year is entitled The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo.

Parents will be challenged to read this book at home with their children in January. Everyone in Ponca City – teachers, business owners, churches, grandparents, and community members – are invited to join the schools in reading this book.

“We can all reap the benefits, which include building the family, promoting literacy, and community collaboration and spirit," Ponca City Schools’ Associate Curriculum Director Teri Vogele said.

"Reading at home is valuable because it better prepares our children to be successful readers and it promotes the love and pure joy of reading. It is also a fun and worthwhile family activity. During the month of January the Ponca City School District encourages families to shut off their television sets and spend time together as a family reading,” Vogele said.

Each family will receive a copy of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane during a school-wide assembly which will introduce the program and the book.

When the book comes home, parents will also receive a tailored reading schedule. Generally, parents will read a chapter each night to their children. This will require a 15 to 20 minute commitment to reading as a family each night.

In school, students will be invited to answer daily trivia or comprehension questions based on the chapter read from the previous night.

“Students will take pride in knowing and anticipating the details of the story," Vogele said. "In class, teachers will incorporate various activities that explore the book throughout the month. Parents will want to make sure their family keeps up so their children can be included in the rich discussions that will take place each day at school. Throughout the month of January, everyone will be talking about The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane!”

One Book, One District is a unique program that promotes literacy, parental involvement, the love of reading, higher level thinking, and quality family time. Reading professionals recommend reading material aloud that is beyond a child’s own reading level. Reading aloud to children promotes growth in comprehension and fluency.

"We hope that the One Book, One District initiative will enlighten parents to the benefits of reading aloud chapter books to their children at home as a continued family habit," Vogele said.

“We have selected a book that can be understood and enjoyed by younger students, but will still captivate and stimulate older students,” said Vogele. “Good luck and happy reading to all the families and community members of The Ponca City School District! I hope to have opportunities to talk to students in our schools about the adventures of Edward, the China rabbit. When the whole district reads a book, there’s a lot to talk about. With the help of families and community members, we can build a community of readers in Ponca City and prepare our students to be productive citizens in a global society.”