Creek's Million Minute Challenge Makes the News!

Last Tuesday morning (December 11), Creek's Million Minute Literacy Challenge was featured on Fox 25's Morning News Program!  I want to thank Fox 25 for the coverage which included six live segments.  The reporter, Terre' Gables, really made it exciting for the kids.  Mrs. Suffield and I even gave a "preview" of our proposed sumo wrestling match on live TV!  (Kids:  Keep reading, and Mrs. Suffield and I will face off for real in May.  Who would win?)  Freckles also made the news!  But my favorite part was the interview of some great kids who have demonstrated a commitment to reading.  I am proud of all the kids and the whole staff....The way they are going at it, the kids may get to THREE MILLION MINUTES of reading, in which case Mrs. Suffield and I will have to sumo wrestle and drink an everything McDonald's shake (gross!). 

Here are some links to Fox 25's website with some videos.  (The videos should load in the window.):

The link to the sumo wrestling preview:  Wilson v. Suffield....The Preview  

And the link to an interview of some great Creek kids!  Creek Kids!

And the link to Freckles' television debut:  Freckles TV Debut!

And the winner is...

Freckles, Creek's beloved cocker spaniel, announced last week at Wakin and Shakin that the winning radical stunt is none other than SUMO WRESTLING.  Mrs. Suffield and I will face-off at a school-wide assembly at the end of April.    We even "upped the ante" by declaring that we would perform two of the stunts if the students would read a record THREE million minutes.   The students are so excited...they are reading like mad!

Everything Shakes, Catfish, and Sumo Wrestling

Say what?  Today Mr. Wilson announced via iPad video the finalists in the Magic Million Essay Contest.  The students went wild as he and Freckles, our cockerspaniel, announced the winners.  Here are the winning ideas:

1) Kiss a live catfish from the Wetland Pond
2) Sumo wrestle Mrs. Suffield
3) Drink an "Everything McDonalds Shake"--the ingredients include chicken nuggets, a hamburger, a chocolate shake, french fries, and ketchup

Seriously?  I think I might be sick!  Voting begins next week.  What would you choose?

Top Ten

Mr. Suffield and Mr. Wilson have narrowed down the persuasive essays to ten.  That was not an easy feat.  They read hundreds of essays!  The top ten will be revealed on Friday morning.  Due to the quality of the essays, Mr. Suffield and Mr. Wilson decided that they would draw for the three essays that would be voted on by the students.  The drawing will be on Friday, October 12 at Wakin and Shakin. I will keep you updated.  I must say, I am a little afraid of what might be drawn out of the hat.  I know that there are bugs to eat, animals to kiss, costumes to wear...The kids can't wait!  I will keep you updated.

"The Magic Million"

Last week the students of Mustang Creek accepted my challenge to read one million minutes during the 2012-2013 school year in exchange for a radical stunt performed by Mrs. Suffield and me.  What is the radical stunt, you ask?  Well, students spent last week writing persuasive essays describing what they believe to be the most outrageous, humiliating, and humorous acts that will motivate 770 kids to read.  The top three essays, judged by Mr. Wilson and Mr. Suffield, will be voted on by the student body next week.  Students from kindergarten through fifth grade entered the “Magic Million” essay contest.  Some of their creative and persuasive ideas included: jumping from an airplane, kissing all sorts of barnyard animals and reptiles, sumo wrestling, eating a variety of disgusting concoctions, sleeping on the roof, and wearing featherless chicken costumes. 

Research suggests that there is a direct link between high academic achievement and minutes read.  Students MUST read at home.  If our students read 30 minutes a night, 4 times per week, in just one week our school will have read over 92,000 minutes.  In 27 weeks, Mustang Creek could easily achieve 2,494,800 minutes read.  That’s well over our one million minute target.  Each class has set a class-wide goal.  I know that several classes are engaging in healthy competitions among their grade level.  Ask your child what the goal is for his/her classroom, help your child set a personal goal, and assist in keeping track of the minutes read at home.

What are the reading parameters?  There are none.   Just read.  Students can read a book, a magazine, a blog, a list…whatever.  My only rule is that they must actively read and record their minutes.  Did you know that one of the best ways to get kids to read is for you to read?  You must model a love for reading.  Take them to the library and share your favorite books with them.  I encourage you to join our “Magic Million” challenge.  Turn off the television and READ!

Do you want to be a millionaire?