On March 6, the Gagon Trust was pleased to see their 14th Think Big Reading Room opening. KIPP Adelante, in downtown San Diego, was excited to see their students react to their beautiful reading room which used to be an underutilized storage area. A mural depicting a bright sun, sky, and clouds and the words “Dream Big” set the tone of the sharp reading room which is home to many students getting lost in books each day. Comfy seating options and tasteful décor were outdone by all the brand new books that fill the bins. The grand opening coincided with KIPP’s Read Across America celebration which included all staff and faculty dressing up as their favorite literature characters, and allocating time in the day for each class to visit their new Think Big Reading Room. All students in grades 4 through 8 piled in their common space area to hear their peers and teachers speak about why they love books.
Their remarks sparked an instantaneous passion to read as just about every student patiently waited their turn to see the much anticipated reading space for the first time. KIPP’s student council is largely credited for the reading room’s success as they played a key role in planning and implementing a vision they worked hard to create.
This student ownership fuels the student body with an appetite to read, read, read!