SMOOT, W.Va. (WVDN) — The pages are turning at Smoot Elementary as the school officially launched its annual “One School, One Book” initiative last week, sparking a wave of literary excitement across all grade levels.
The program, spearheaded by Title I teacher Ms. Anderson, aims to transform the entire school community into a giant book club. For several years, the initiative has fostered a shared reading experience that bridges the gap between the classroom and the living room.
How it Works
To ensure every student can participate regardless of their background, the school provides books to families at no cost. The program is designed to be inclusive and structured:
-
Shared Timeline: Each family receives a take-home guide to ensure all students are reading the same chapters at the same time.
-
Active Engagement: Trivia questions are provided for each chapter, allowing parents and students to test comprehension skills together.
-
Universal Participation: The program is open to every student in the building, creating a unified conversation across different age groups.
From Page to Screen
The initiative concludes at the end of the month with a community movie night. Families are invited to the school to watch the film adaptation of the chosen book, providing a foundation for critical thinking.
“After watching the movie and reading the book, students have opportunities for comparison conversations,” the school noted. These discussions focus on which version they preferred and identifying the creative differences between the text and the screen.
A Growing Tradition
Smoot Elementary has a history of selecting beloved animal-centric stories for the program. Previous years featured modern classics such as Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo and The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.
By removing the financial barrier of book ownership and providing a structured reading schedule, the “One School, One Book” program continues to turn reading into a celebrated social event for the Smoot community.
