Grace Leavitt, president of the Maine Education Association, reads to a class in Steep Falls. She presented a Little Free Library to the fourth-grade class of Ashley Cram for their success in the Read Across Maine Contest by reading 553 chapters. Contributed / Maine Education Association
Ashley Cram’s fourth-grade students in Steep Falls were recently presented with a Little Free Library by Grace Leavitt, president of the Maine Education Association (MEA), for their success in the Read Across Maine Contest. Read Across Maine, hosted each March by the MEA, is part of the National Education Association’s Read Across America initiative.
Cram says that she challenged her students to read one chapter for every mile between Steep Falls and New Sweden, a total of 545 miles, or 545 chapters, in March. Cram’s class surpassed this goal by reading 553 chapters, earning the class one of MEA’s grand prizes, a Little Free Library, and $1,000 worth of books for their classroom library.
“Throughout the month of March, I saw students branching out across multiple genres, themes, and topics and truly exploring their reading on a deeper level,” Cram said. “We had more conversations about reading and their comprehension than ever before, and I truly believe that this challenge kickstarted a love of reading for most of my learners.”
“Read Across Maine encourages students to develop a love for reading and deepen their understanding of themselves and their communities,” said Leavitt. “Mrs. Cram’s students now have a Little Free Library as a platform to share their love for reading and books with their community.”
MEA awarded four prizes for the Read Across Maine Contest; Holly Morgan’s class at Palermo Consolidated School also earned a grand prize, Kim Nielsen’s third-grade class at Crooked River Elementary earned second place, and Nick Fuller’s fourth-grade class at CK Burns School won third place.
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