Celebrating I Love to Read Month in School District 197
March is I Love to Read Month, and across School District 197, students and staff are celebrating the joy of reading in many creative ways. From author visits and reading competitions to growing classroom libraries and schoolwide reading events, our schools continue to build a strong culture where reading is both valued and loved.
Building Strong Readers
Our district’s focus on literacy continues to grow as we implement Minnesota’s READ Act, which emphasizes the Science of Reading. Over the past year, elementary teachers completed extensive training in structured literacy and began applying these strategies in their classrooms. Early results are promising, with more kindergarten students finishing the year reading at grade level. As these practices continue to expand across grade levels, we expect even stronger outcomes for students.
Reading by the Numbers
Students across the district are showing just how much they love to read.
- Elementary schools: Students have checked out more than 35,000 books this school year. Popular titles include Mo Willems' books, as well as “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and “Dog Man.”
- Middle schools: Favorite books include “Swim Team,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” “Heartstopper,” “Squished,” and “Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.”
- Two Rivers High School: Students most frequently check out manga, followed by graphic novels and mystery titles.
Reading Across Our Schools
Students and staff across the district are finding fun and meaningful ways to celebrate reading.
At Mendota Elementary, students welcomed young Minnesota author Delores “Kiki” Garcia, who published her first children’s book, “Fishing by Torchlight,” at just 9 years old. She shared the importance of storytelling and encouraged students to see themselves as authors.
At Moreland Arts and Health Sciences Magnet School, the school library has been revitalized. In the past two years, more than 1,300 new books per year have been added—over five times the previous annual average—thanks to support from community partners and school organizations. New shelving—purchased from the Moreland PTA from the Wentworth Library renovation and sized for young readers—makes browsing easier and more inviting for students.
At Garlough Environmental Magnet School, students participated in a Drop Everything and Read Day, where the entire school paused to read together in classrooms, hallways, and common spaces.
At Heritage E-STEM Magnet School, students recently competed in the annual Battle of the Books, testing their knowledge of a selected reading list in a trivia-style competition. The event also included the popular Battle of the Books Café, where students sampled foods featured in the books. The most popular food item this year? Oysters!
At Friendly Hills Middle School, students and families are celebrating reading with the annual Read-A-Thon. Students can earn fun prizes for every minute they spend reading, listening to audiobooks, or enjoying stories read aloud. The program encourages families to read together while supporting a great cause—funds raised help add exciting new books to the school and classroom libraries for all students to enjoy.
At Two Rivers High School, the media center, a popular hub of creativity and reading all year long, is hosting the March Mammal Madness competition, where students research animals and create brackets predicting which would win in simulated matchups—combining literacy, science, and a little friendly competition.
Read Like a Warrior
This year, Two Rivers High School students continued the tradition of bringing the Read Like a Warrior tour to our elementary schools. During these visits, high school students read with younger learners and talk about why reading matters to them. One stop included Moreland, where all 40 visiting high school students were former Moreland students themselves. It was a full-circle moment and a meaningful way to inspire the next generation of readers.
Supporting Reading at Home
Families play an important role in helping students develop a lifelong love of reading. To support this partnership, we’ve included resources on our website with tips and strategies families can use to encourage reading at home—from building daily reading routines to finding books that match a child’s interests. By working together, schools and families can continue to nurture confident, curious readers both in the classroom and beyond.
From early literacy instruction to student-led reading events, I Love to Read Month highlights the many ways reading brings our school communities together.
