Newbery Reading Challenge: Fostering a Love for Literature at Graland

Kat Diez Canseco
The Newbery reading challenge has become a beloved Grade 3 tradition that brings students, teachers, and parents together in a shared love for literature. The Grade 3 students are challenged to read five Newbery Award-winning books, and then engage in a book discussion facilitated by a trained parent volunteer.
This celebration of reading not only encourages a love for rich literature but also enhances students' comprehension skills and creates a sense of camaraderie. The Newbery medal, named after John Newbery, the pioneer of children's literature, is an annual award given by the American Library Association. Although Newbery books and awards are recognized nationally, the reading challenge is special to Graland and exposes students to a variety of genres and encourages them to explore literature they may not have picked up otherwise. As students progress through the challenge, they develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments, often surpassing their own expectations by reading 25, and in some cases, even 45 books in four short months! Furthermore, students who surpass the 25 book-mark are awarded a place in the Newbery Hall of Fame at Graland, where their name is included on the recognition wall.

Throughout the challenge, students engage in discussions, sharing their favorite books, recommending titles to one another, and learning to identify books they are ready to tackle independently. The Newbery Reading Challenge at Graland is nurturing a lifelong love for reading, and creating a supportive environment that values knowledge, growth, and the exploration of new ideas.
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Graland Country Day School

Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.