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When teachers and media specialists began noticing that, over time, students were choosing to read outside of school less, they began to evaluate how to build a district and at-home partnership to encourage students to read.

Out of their brainstorming, research, and collaboration, “Edina Grows Readers” was born in the 2018-2019 school year. Research clearly demonstrates the vital importance of reading for students, whether they're reading independently or being read to. Bethany Van Osdel, Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning, explained that, “making time for reading during the school day is something we can directly implement and control. Even at the high school level, the Science of Reading principles remain crucial — students need strong foundational skills and ample reading practice to tackle increasingly complex texts. The key question we asked ourselves was how we could extend that engagement with reading beyond our school walls. When we can successfully encourage reading outside of school hours, we know it translates directly to improved academic outcomes for our students.”

“Edina Grows Readers” serves as a district framework to support and encourage families to read outside of school. The goal of this program is to increase the amount of time students read outside of school through book suggestions, reminders about the importance of reading, and other resources for improved literacy. The team of teachers, media specialists and administrators who helped develop the the program hope to see increased engagement with reading and a newly cultivated love of reading together in families.

If we want our students to read and enjoy it for the rest of their lives, then we must show them what a reading life looks like. — Donalyn Miller

Miller, D. (2009). Everybody is a reader. In The book whisperer: Awakening the inner reader in every child. (pp. 37,110-118). San Francisco: CA: Jossey-Bass.

“The purpose of Edina Grows Readers aligns with the EPS mission, which is to work in partnership with families and the community to educate all individuals in order to become lifelong learners. To be a lifelong learner is to be a reader. Edina Grows Readers supports this mission by encouraging daily reading by all, reading outside of school, and promoting a culture of reading in the broader Edina community.”

Books Kids Love

The Edina Grows Readers “Books Kids Love” list is updated each month! The suggested titles are curated by district media specialists, consulting professional review sources. While these are books kids love, families/guardians ultimately decide which books are appropriate for their children. Most books included on the list are available at the Hennepin County Public Library. Check back monthly for new titles!

Not a student?

Get connected with Edina Reads: a community-wide reading program that encourages active reading, lifelong learning, and thoughtful conversation, sponsored by the Edina Community Foundation.

Monthly Book Titles

Student reading in library.