Here at Westarea, we believe in the power of reading. We strongly encourage parents to embrace this concept by ensuring that their child reads for at least twenty minutes a day. Children who follow this routine will hear more than one million words per year. Over time, this practice helps develop a strong vocabulary and a lifelong love for reading. Additionally, these students are more likely to score in the 90th percentile on standardized tests.
Westarea participates in DEAR, which stands for “Drop Everything and Read.” This activity takes place every Friday and is part of a national celebration designed to remind families to make reading a priority in their lives. DEAR Day is celebrated every year on April 12th in honor of author Beverly Cleary’s birthday. The idea of DEAR time originated from Cleary’s Ramona books, where it was featured as a special reading practice.
At Westarea, we know that readers today are leaders tomorrow!