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Million Words Campaign

The Million Words Campaign started in 2002, when then DPS Superintendent Jerry Wartgow asked all students to read one million words a year. Wartgow noted that the Million Words Campaign would help meet district goals.

Why one million words? Research indicates a good way to increase student achievement is to encourage reading. A 1994 study by R.C. Rogers showed that frequent readers showed higher reading achievement. A 1999 study (John Guthrie, Allan Wigfield, Jamie Metsala and Kathleen Cox) showed that reading volume predicted reading comprehension achievement. (read more…)

Thus, the campaign was born and continues to thrive at DPS to:

help students develop the habits of good readers
create excitement about reading everyday
support students in becoming more proficient readers

Documents

Suggestions To Promote Your Campaign

Adopt a theme for the year, for example: "A Million More"
Include your Librarian as a resource
Make posters with pictures of your students reading
Form a Million Words Book Club
Let your students come up with their own ideas/suggestions, and give feedback on the books they've read

Certificates

Print as many as you need of the following certificates for students who have read a million words:

Medals

Order Form (.doc)

Help

Please contact the DPS Curriculum Department or the ERS Helpdesk with any questions.