* We have SSR in the high school. Each day it is done by a different subject/department.

For example, Science, Business and Music sets aside the first 15 minutes of class for SSR
on Monday. On Tuescay, Social Studies, Family & Consumer Science have SSR, etc.
Some of the teachers think it interferes too much with the required class work.
* We have a sustained silent reading program for grades 7-12. It is
called STARS (Stop Talking and Read Something). Every Tuesday,
students engage in 15 minutes of sustained silent reading at the
beginning of a class period. Each week, the class period changes.
(For example, if it is 1st period this week, it will be 2nd period
next week, 3rd period the week after, etc.) Students are required to
select leisure reading material that they enjoy. The material may be
a book, magazine, or newspaper. The reading material cannot be part
of a homework assignment, nor can it be a catalog.
We are in our second year of the STARS program and it is working well
so far.
* On Wed. mornings after a.m. announcements, we have
incorporated 2 new programs. One is called BUG (Bringing
Up Grades) and DEAR (Drop Everything and Read). The
class that is brought here (I am not iin charge of it, so I
don't say much) used to read, but now it's pretty much turned into a study hall to get homework
done. Some read
and we encourage them. While the students needing extra
help with classroom work go to their teachers for extra help, the other students read. I like the
idea, and the kids reading
are supposed to keep a log (it's passed out--just a sheet of
paper with the date, pp. read, etc.) but I don't know how it's
working other than in this room.
Good luck. I was thrilled that we would implement such a
program. I've heard that in other districts, the staff (custodians, the nurse, the cafeteria workers)
were all included in the program. That wasn't done here as far as I
know. The program lasts about 1/2 hr. and we then have
an alternative bell schedule.
Good Luck.

* We have had a silent reading program for at least 10 or more years now. It is not
school- wide, but is done in most of our English classes. Everyday (except for special
units that need more time, so we do take breaks from it) students bring any book they
choose to class. It has to be a book, but other than that, there are no restrictions. It can be
nonfiction, poetry, plays, current best sellers, YA books, or whatever they want. They
read for the first 15 minutes. They start the grading period with an A in SSR (you can
make it worth however many points you want - 100, 50,...). They only loose points if they
don't read. They can not do homework or just stare at the book. The teacher uses this time
to go around the room and check homework, answer questions, and give make-up work. I
keep a file box on a file cabinet, and each time a student finishes a book, he or she adds
the title to his or her 3x5 card. I give these to the students at the end of the year so they
have a record of the books they have read. There are never any tests, book reports, or
assignments of any kind. We want the students to read for enjoyment. Of course, we have

some students who do not want to read. I work closely would our librarian to find books
these students might enjoy. For the most part, the students read. Some love it. I truly
believe they read more than they ever would if we did not do this. It is also very
satisfying to see students in the IMC checking out books and hear them recommending
books to other students. Our librarian has also done book talks for the freshmen classes.
We do in every 9th and 10th grade English class. The 11th grade general English classes
also do this. I plan to keep on doing SSR for the rest of my career.
* A few years ago we had a reading rally. Every Wednesday we were on rally schedule.
We built in the rally at the end of morning classes before lunch. Everyone in the building
read during that 15 minute period.
Unfortunately we no longer have this SSR scheduled. We have been using the
Accelerated Reader program in the high school for a couple of years. Students are
required a certain number of points each nine weeks as part of their English grades.
Part of the problem with the reading rally was that not every teacher participated.
Teachers complained that students did not bring anything with them to read and that the
teachers had to make sure they had newspapers or magazines they could hand to students
who came unprepared.
A number of us felt the reading rally was a good thing. Now that we have Accelerated
Reader in place and students are reading so much more, I would like to see us try the
rally again. I think it would go over much better now.
Originally it was read whatever you wanted. Now that there is an AR requirement
students would be more focused in their reading. I have to say for all the negatives about
AR, it has made a significant difference in the reading in our high school. We observe
students reading everywhere in the building.
* I teach 11th graders in a small school in Trumbull County.
Two years ago I began using a sustained silent reading plan in my classroom. I set aside a
day each month for this, randomly chosen, or chosen at the request of the students. I ask
that students bring a book to read for the period. They receive 10 points for bringing a
book (homework) and staying on task. I circulate a sheet of paper and they list their
names, the book and the author. They are supposed to keep a reading record in their
notebooks for the year. I read for the period also, as an example. It is my favorite day!!
We could never make this plan work for the building--too many non-readers, who would
complain about wasting the instructional time--but I do what I can in my own classroom.
I can tell you, many students like it. The non-readers whine a bit, but they bring their
books. I try to not "grade" on the reading or give book report assignments. I am trying to
encourage them to read for the sake of reading. Try it--it is worth it.
* Yes, we do silent reading at the secondary level. We have it every other week (Friday)
during the time period we would have Channel 1 (Channel 1 requirement is to show it
90% of the time, so we fulfill this requirement) It has gone over well. We have no
meetings during that time, and students are not allowed to roam the hallways. They must

have reading materials with them. We have Channel 1 at the beginning of 2nd period, so
the principal does remind students at the end of first period to bring something with them
to 2nd period class to read. Our students--anyone who takes a high school English class-also have to pass books on Reading Counts. This gives them time to read for that
requirement also.
* I appreciate your comments and encourage you to participate in OCIRA's
Right to Read celebration (can be scheduled anytime during the year -- see OCIRA
webpage
www.ocira.org.
Our committee sends a Reading Hall of Fame Award (carryover from Ohio Dep of Ed
program) and we
try to have special district recognition at OCIRA Fall Conference (Sep 29-30 in
Youngstown, part of KSU,
UofA, Youngstown State U Reading Conference)
Will your SSR program be for short time or entire year? I enjoyed the comments from
others, especially
the one involved in the Bill Gates Small School program; Euclid is also one of Gates
Small Schools grant
winners. We'll see how restructuring the grant program works for 2006-2007.
* We do a school wide sustained silent reading building wide (high school) during Read
Across America Day.
* I don't know if you count seventh and eighth
grades as "secondary" level. At Mt. Healthy Middle
Schools we have D.E.A.R (Drop Everything and Read)
during home room three days a week. It is supposed to
be schoolwide reading - including adults. I don't
think that always happens. We acctually give a
Pass/Fail grade based mainly on whether the student
was reading and if they remembered to bring a book. Some teachers keep a basket of
books for the students
to read. Since I'm in the library, well...! I
believe they do this at the high school (no grades
though), also.
* My high school has a SSR period every day, during 5th period. We read for 10-15
minutes school wide, but it can be anytime during 5th period which is our lunch period. It
has been successful because my principal is a huge proponent of the idea. I also
purchased a copy of Steven Gardiner's book, Building Student Literacy Through
Sustained Silent Reading--it is excellent!
I hope you plan to let the group know what kind of response you get; I would be most
interested to see if any other high schools have SSR.

* I currently chair the Ohio Council International Reading Asn Right to Read/
Newspaper in Education Committee, in its 29th year of celebrations!
At Euclid HS, I was part of a committee for many years. Sustained Silent Reading was
an important part of the program. In the earliest years,
efforts were made in the district so all schools could participate. But eventually, our 2000
student high school did our own SSR. The program that worked best was
daily for a week, same time everyday. Usually 2nd period. The weeks schedule was
rearranged. An announcement was made by students or adults or local
"celebrities" to state a quotation, to share a favorite book or poem, or to list contest
winners. The announcement signalled the start of reading time.
Usually we had a central theme: Cleveland Indians baseball was good; Cleveland
Browns was not (even though we had two alumni on the team),
Titanic (who would guess that a sinking ship would be so popular---movie release
helped). We attempted to get the entire school involved: special
cookies in the cafeteria. Students decorating doors.
High schools can participate in
Right to Read activities by SSR, reading on the morning announcements,
contests, displays on bulletin boards, halls, etc. One contest that was fun: we asked
teachers/staff to name favorite book or character. Then had
matching contest. Eventually we placed books and names in showcase with the matchup. High Schools can also help read to elementary school students
(often the football or other sports teams go to elementary school to read. Cheerleaders
design cheers. The first Int. Reading Convention that I attended
was B.E.A.R. (/Be Enthusiastic About Reading!) -- Berenstain and other bears
dominated exhibits, even in local stores.
Currently we have six small schools working on various literacy projects.
Hope the following sites help you. I do believe that the teacher should model. We
were frustrated because some people would run errands,
make noise in hall, grade papers, etc. The secretaries and administrators also
wanted to participate. Some people wanted phones placed on hold and school to
come to STOP so custodians could also read. If you were having a program, invited
administrators and teachers to read with students in classes or in the library. Allow
some time for discussion about materials read.
Marge Lucas, Euclid HS
216-797-7860
mclreads@aol.com (home)
I love the Internet and the ability to see what is being done throughout the world!
The first address is from Hong Kong!
1
Evaluating Sustained Silent Reading in Reading Classes
http://iteslj.org/Articles/Chow-SSR.html

A Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) program has been implemented in schools through
the Hong Kong Extensive Reading Scheme in English, which has been initiated and
developed by the Education Department for 10 years. The aim of the SSR is to help
students develop a good habit of reading and improve their English proficiency in the
long run. In sustained silent reading, students read silently in a designated time period
every day in school.

2
Sustained Silent Reading in the Classroom
By Cathy Puett Miller

http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/ReadingCoach/ReadingCoach005.shtml
3

Reading Interest Areas...

http://www.atreading.info/find/sustainedsilentreading/
4
Does silent "sustained" reading usually put you to sleep? Do you "stretch the
truth" on your
... Does silent "sustained" reading usually put you to sleep ... according to a rubric the
teacher provides. Set up a club "meeting" for each work ...
http://www.atreading.info/find/sustainedsilentreading/
5. FROM AASL:
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/slmrb/slmrcontents/volume32000/i
ndependent.htm

Reading expert Bernice Cullinan examines literature

about SSR.

* Yes, we have SSR. We implemented it several years ago but it really took off when
we implemented the STAR diagnostic reading assessment piece, along with
Accelerated Reader program. I have been at this HS for 25 years and couldn't
believe how those 2 programs have changed the face of reading in this
building.......from AP English classes to our MH unit. Wow! I've bought a ton of AR
books to support the program and have marked them all with the reading level. I'd be
happy to discuss this with you, if you'd like.
I'm not sure about your question of school-wide or classroom specific. It's a schoolwide policy, across the curriculum (phys. ed., etc..) and each teacher has to turn into
principal the schedule for SSR. It used to be a period a week but everyone

complained so now it's an hour a month. It's STAR and AR that have made the
difference, not SSR..

* We have SSR on Wednesday afternoon at the end of the day as a part of our Literacy
Plan for High Schools That Work and Knowledge Works Literacy Plan. It is supposed to
be schoolwide but it is difficult to enforce.
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we have a 30 minute period where there is a
specific activity for each day.
* All of our students have a twenty minute lunch study hall every day. At the beginning
of the year, our principal designated Wednesday lunch study hall as a day for SSR for the
whole school. Theoretically, every student should have SSR once a week for twenty
minutes, but I suppose that really depends on how the teachers run their individual study
halls!
* All of the English classes read for 10-15 min.
Also, as a cross over in standards, the social studies classes also read on Fridays 10-15
min.
Students may choose any book or magazine, but not a textbook - no studying for a test or
doing homework!
* Every Friday morning first thing after announcements, we had around 25 minutes of
SSR in grades 7-12. This was also "club" time. This is when clubs could schedule
meetings, which had to be scheduled ahead of time with all clubs giving their member
names to all staff...I believe with no more than three clubs allowed to schedule on any
given Friday. Many Fridays no clubs met. Students were required to be reading if they
were not at a meeting. They were not allowed to go to the library...or anywhere else. They
had to have the reading material in hand when the bell rang. No pencils, not a studyhall.
It acually worked pretty good, and some students had commented that it was nice to have
down time to read what they wanted without feeling like they should be doing homework
or something else. When principals changed, it didn't work quite so well because the rules
were getting more lax, but it was still going on when I changed districts. I am at
Wapakoneta now. They have tried to do a "Silent 20" at the middle school for the last
couple years where students are given 20 minutes each day to read silently. It has not
worked at all. Students are in the hall, going to the library, doing homework...On the most
part, it is just free time or another studyhall. My point is...It can work if run correctly.
With the backing of administration that requires it to be reading time, not just more down
time.
* Right now we have 7 of our 9 English teachers who do an independent reading project
each nine weeks in which they allow class time to read. I would like to hear about the
responses you gather. As a member of my school's literacy team, we have discussed this
issue several times.
* Regarding sustained silent reading, at our high school, it depends on
the teacher. I have two younger teachers who are currently bringing

their C-/D/F students in two periods per week to the L/MC because it is
a more relaxing environment for reading than in their classrooms. While
this is not the SSR that was promulgated in the 80's, at least the
students are associating silent reading with the library, so I am happy.
That this is the only way that these young teachers can get their
students to "read" an assigned book is a shame, but it is not abnormal
in this day and age, considering the students these teachers have to
work with. For some, this is the first time they've ever been in the
L/MC!
* We have 23 minutes a day of SSR for our entire school--6th through 8th
graders. Once every two weeks, classes use that time to visit the
library to pick out pleasure reading materials. Sometimes I use the
first few minutes of that time for a library mini lesson.
* We are doing a form of SSR. Students read for 20 minutes each day, but in a different
class: Monday, Science; Tuesday, English; Wednesday, Math; Thursday, History; Friday,
Lab. We have done a few surveys and most of the students and teachers like it. Since we
don't do it school-wide each day at a set time, there is no opportunity for support staff and
administration to participate, which many of them are sad about.
* We do a school wide SSR once a year but many English teachers have SSR on Fridays.
It is quasi - official school wide but it takes place in their own classes each period on
Friday so participation might be iffy. I know one teacher does it on Wednesdays. Hope
this info helps..