Canutillo Middle School STEAM Academy students joined the ranks of the millionaires club when they completed the 2020
Million Words Read Challenge. Between September and April, 97 Students in a Mrs. Gamboa’s 7th Grade ELAR class collectively read 1 million words using Read to Lead, a digital learning program that empowers students to “be the boss,” of a virtual workplace. While playing Read to Lead, students develop reading, writing, and 21st-century skills that benefit them in school today and prepare them for a successful transition to high school and beyond.
In its second year, the
Million Words Read Challenge motivates students in middle school classrooms and afterschool programs across the country to collectively read over one million words in
Read to Lead. Canutillo Middle School STEAM Academy students started using the program in September of 2020 and earned digital achievement badges along the way to encourage them to keep progressing towards their goal.
“This challenge has really helped our students during the Pandemic in staying engaged and they are actually enjoying reading,” said Mrs. Erika Gamboa. “Due to this, their reading Lexile’s are increasing and they feel accomplished each time they complete one of the activities.”
Literacy is critical for success in and beyond high school, but students often aren’t rewarded for their efforts to read. The
Million Words Read Challenge gives educators a new tool to motivate students to read by rewarding them for reaching milestones like their number of words read, and collectively reading one million words as a class.
The
Million Words Read Challenge is sponsored by Classroom, Inc., a non-profit organization that helps middle school youth build literacy and 21st-century skills that prepare them for their future in school, career, and life. Through the generous support of donors, the organization is offering virtual gift cards to educators whose students have read one million words as a class. Educators will be able to purchase prizes to celebrate their students’ accomplishments. Educators also have access to a printable certificate to show their students are part of the Millionaire Club.
For nearly 30 years, Classroom, Inc. has been on a mission to empower middle school youth to connect the dots between school and their future careers, imagine new possibilities for themselves, and gain the academic skills and confidence to achieve their ambitions.
Read to Lead, an award-winning game-based program, gives students the chance to make tough decisions as the leaders of three different workplaces. Each episode of Read to Lead gives students the chance to read 5,000 words. Students have the potential to read 180,000 words if they complete all the games on the platform, the equivalent of 1 ½ middle school chapter books!
Learn more about the Million Words Read Challenge
here.
About Classroom Inc.
Classroom, Inc. is a non-profit organization that helps middle school youth build literacy and 21st-century skills that prepare them for their future in school, career, and life. We put students in charge of fictional workplaces through digital workplace learning games and project-based curriculum. Our program,
Read to Lead empowers students to “be the boss,” requiring them to make tough decisions, solve complex problems, and communicate with a wide range of people — key skills needed in life and 21st-century careers. To learn more about Classroom, Inc., and
Read to Lead, visit us at
classroominc.org.