Fourth-grade students from Paramount Charter Academy recently competed in Kalamazoo Public Library’s Global Reading Challenge at the Oshtemo branch.
The Global Reading Challenge promotes the reading of fiction and nonfiction and celebrates the world's diverse community. Ten books are selected by the district’s librarians that are deemed interesting for young readers, and the challenge quizzes readers on content from the books.
Twenty-eight students were placed into four teams to represent Paramount Charter Academy during their school challenge. The school’s winning team, The Decoders, moved on to compete for the county title. The participating students included Keith Spurlock, Kross Walden, Griffen Slain, Ka'Marion Ligon, and Avery Williams. Williams is the team captain and the only female member of her group.
“I'm super impressed with the determination of all of the students involved in the Challenge, to know the books that they read inside and out, along with the collaboration among the team members,” said Shannon Schwandt, academic specialist at Paramount Charter Academy.
The books in the challenge included “Crenshaw,” by Katherine Applegate, “El Deafo,” by Cece Bell, “Raymie Nightingale,” by Kate DiCamillo, “Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key,” by Jack Gantos, “The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street,” by Karina Yan Glaser, “Turtle in Paradise,” by Jennifer L. Holm, “Dash,” by Kirby Larson, “Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things,” by Lenore Look, “Wonder,” by R.J. Palacio, and “Locomotion,” by Jacqueline Woodson.
“The Decoders went into the competition a few teammates short but proved that they took the time to really understand the books and that they were very capable of working under pressure,” said Schwandt.