This year’s “Read the World” motivational reading program wrapped with a Jeopardy-style competition in which students showed off their reading comprehension and retention skills.
The second-year program aims to enhance students' reading abilities, strengthen comprehension skills and ignite excitement for reading. The fourth grades from both Clinton and Warring elementary schools took part.
The students all read the same book, “Amari and the Despicable Wonders,” over the course of roughly three months. Through the program, the students’ reading comprehension was monitored through weekly quizzes and teachers assessed areas of strengths and improvement.
Dr. David Scott, Clinton principal, noted the program and the promise of a competition at the end of it, increased engagement in the book and encouraged everyone to complete it.
“We found a way to hide literacy and sneak it in there,” he said. “This is a beautiful opportunity to get them together to compete over academics.”
Five students from each school were selected to take part in the competition held at Clinton. The host school ended up winning on a final tiebreaking question; Alani Oliver, who answered the winning question, earned the highest individual score of any competitor and earned the grand prize, an iPad and a gift card. Two other students, one from each school, also won gift cards.
Oliver said it was fun to answer questions about the book in front of her classmates, and proudly ran through the entire premise of the book when she was asked about the competition. Though, her favorite part was obvious: “I liked that I won the prize,” she grinned.
Prior to the competition held May 16, program lead and co-founder Sheba Abrahaim welcomed both schools and spoke to the students, as did Bill Duke, the Poughkeepsie-born actor, director, humanitarian and author. A conversation between Duke and Abrahaim was the inspiration for the program. The program began with Clinton’s fifth-grade students, only, reading last year, but was expanded to multiple schools for the second edition
 Duke told the kids the program is “about more than reading, as you know. It’s about encouraging you to become the best human beings you can possibly become.”
Poughkeepsie City School District Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Gregory Mott, who will take the reins as superintendent July 1, also spoke to the students, as did Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson.
Mott referenced both Duke and Jacobson in his comments, noting the kids should understand their presence should make them feel as “special” and “important” as they are.
“Many of you will be standing here with a microphone one day. Many of you will have a script or you may be stars one day on TV. Many of you may be politicians,” Mott explained. “The foundation of all of that is the ability to comprehend information, synthesize texts, analyze texts and reading.”
The program this year was supported by Mayor Yvonne Flowers, Jacobson, Councilwoman Ondie James, Heritage Federal Credit Union, the City of Poughkeepsie PBA and Marist University.