Reading a must for kids in Youngstown Volney's innovative Discovery Program

YOUNGSTOWN

They huddled at the lunch tables, their heads bent over books.

“For 10 to 12 minutes every day, we have silent reading time,” said Misha Scott, principal at Discovery Program at Volney, or D2.

It’s a new Discovery third-through-eighth-grade school that opened this year in the city school district, part of an ongoing effort to expand student choice.

Students gain exposure to engineering, communication, art, Spanish, dance and orchestra.

Silent reading is Scott’s initiative.

“All elementary school students are required to have at least one book checked out of the library at all times,” she said. “Middle school students are required to have at least two books checked out at all times.”

It’s more of a hit with some students that others. Some have read 10 books so far this school year.

“Some students don’t really like reading, but they do it because everyone else is doing it,” the principal said.

Seventh-grader Aleaha Lampley, 12, was on Chapter 3 Thursday of Patricia Reilly Giff’s “Water Street.”

“It’s about a girl, and she lives in an apartment, and there’s a pregnant woman who lives there,” Aleaha said. “Her mom is teaching her what to do to help someone who is pregnant.”

She said she likes to read, and she’s read too many books so far this year to count.

Aleaha was a bit apprehensive about coming to Volney this year because it was a new school. She didn’t know what to expect, but the school year is going well.

“It’s fun,” she said.

Scott believes it’s important to encourage students to enjoy learning and views reading as the foundation of that.

The school houses about 190 students with openings available for fourth- and fifth-graders.

The school building, on South Schenley Avenue on the city’s West Side, was closed last school year after operating as Volney Rogers Middle School for several years. It reopened as a specialty school this year.

“We have high expectations,” Scott said.

Read more about the new innovative program in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.