Cole Middle School will host a Literacy Night for students, parents and staff from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the Million Words Campaign and the Studio Literacy program. In addition, students will perform a play, read from their own work and demonstrate cross-age tutoring.

The district launched an ambitious new literacy program last year along with an organized effort to improve reading and writing skills at the secondary level for struggling sixth- through tenth-grade students. The goal is to develop proficient and powerful readers and writers. The secondary literacy program prescribes two hours of instruction time every day.

In the cross-age tutoring program, middle and high school students pair up with elementary school students to practice reading and writing. Cross-age tutoring is part of the secondary literacy program.

The district’s Million Words Campaign created more than 13,000 “millionaires” last year - students who read one million words - as part of the literacy plan. That’s about 25 chapter books per year for a fifth-grader or about four books per day for a first-grader. Research indicates that a good way to increase student achievement is by encouraging reading.

Cole Middle School is located at 3240 Humboldt St. For more information, contact the school at 303-296-8421.