Reading is Fundamental, RIF, is a government funded program that provides students with free paperback books.  We are allotted a certain amount of money each year to purchase books.  RIF provides three-quarters of the allotted amount, and Westwood provides one-quarter of the allotted amount.  Our Red Wheel Fundraisers in the fall and spring help us raise the funds for our portion.  Every year we have at least three RIF distributions, where each child in the school chooses a book.  Prior to each distribution, the students must participate in activities that promote reading.

Our activities vary from year to year.  We try to have two school-wide activities every year.  We choose a theme and design nine activities that engage the students in reading. In these activities, the students are partnered with another classroom, and everyone rotates through stations.  This is an all day event that the students enjoy.

The other type of activities that we do are a little more low keyed.   These activities include contests, displaying work (research, book reports, etc.), or just setting a time for everyone in the school to drop everything and read.

Revised on 04/27/2008

Clip Art Disclaimer: Some of the clip art may be by Dianne J. Hook @ www.djinkers.com and is used with her permission.