On September 22, all Woodside High School students participated in ‘The Big Read’ summer assignment. Each year revolves around a topic from the well-known 8 Conditions of Woodside High School.
The Big Read requirements consist of a book that follows the topic of belonging from the ‘8 Conditions’ which are Belonging, Heroes, Sense of Accomplishment, Fun and Excitement, Curiosity and Creativity, Spirit of Adventure, Leadership and Responsibility, and Confidence to take Action. The book also needs to be 150 pages or more. After completing the book students are highly encouraged to fill out one or more provided graphic organizers. The intended Goals of the Big Read are to help students read over the summer and create bonds with fellow classmates. The Big Read has been happening for numerous years and has evolved greatly but some still wonder if it’s accomplishing its intended goals.
“Woodside has historically had an activity after students do a summer reading to help students feel like they did it for a reason,” Instructional Vice Principal Cara Klackle said. “I think it’s a very good adult skill to be able to talk about what you’ve read.”
The Big Read may have well-intentioned goals and positive intentions to help students create new relationships with fellow students as they talk about the books they read over the previous summer. However, the structure and process of The Big Read aims to achieve important goals, the reality is not always in keeping with these goals.
“I like to do a little book reading here and there, but I’m not going to do it specifically for the summer read because it is based on certain topics and prompts that I’m just really not interested in,” sophomore Magdalena Garcia said.
This point of view is shared by many Woodside students. Many students feel unmotivated to participate in the summer reading because of the prompts and topics that are inspired by the 8 Conditions of Student Success. However, staff believe these topics help form and create a more structured summer assignment.
“Connecting the Big Read to the 8 Conditions was very valuable because the 8 Conditions have really changed Woodside for the better,” English teacher Nicole Taylor said. “I can honestly say that I’m very pleased with the way they are now corresponding because it made it more meaningful and connected to the Woodside culture.”
Although there have been major improvements to the way The Big Read has been structured, there is still room for improvement in order to better inspire students to participate, and want to read over the summer.
“I believe reading is very beneficial,” sophomore Anna Bianchini said. “But they need to change the assignment to make us students actually want to participate.”
