FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
CONTACT INFORMATION
LINDA K. TAYLOR
Holly Radcliffe
March 29, 2006
(850) 245-5030
Holly.Radcliffe@fldoe.org
MEMORANDUM
K-12: 2006-45
To: Middle School Principals
From: Cheri Pierson Yecke, Ph.D.
Chancellor, K-12 Public Schools
Re: Guinness Book of World Records Read Aloud
In January, Commissioner John Winn launched a year-long middle school reading initiative aimed at
reading achievement in grades six, seven, and eight, with three contests built in to motivate middle
school students to take their reading one step further.
Middle school students can struggle with reading for a variety of reasons: they have little time to
practice reading, and they have little motivation to read -- and because of that, they are not developing
vocabulary and background and content knowledge that they can apply in other areas. Research tells
us that students who do not read during the summer may lose, on average, two to three months of skill.
Through Governor Bush’s leadership, and with the support of the Florida Legislature, we have worked
hard to provide solid professional development for middle school teachers and reading coaches; we
have also offered instructional enhancements such as free oral reading fluency probes. The “Shoot for
the Stars” initiative allows us to address, on a much larger scale, the factors that we know influence
reading proficiency in middle school.
The “Shoot for the Stars: A Record-Breaking Year for Middle Schools” initiative consists of three
contests:
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Commissioner Winn’s FCAT Reading Scores Challenge
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Chancellor Yecke’s Summer Book Reading Challenge
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Governor and First Lady’s Reading in the Arts Contest
Detailed information on the Commissioner’s FCAT Scores challenge is available at
www.justreadflorida.com. More detail regarding the second and third parts of this initiative will be
released at a later date. Please encourage your middle schools to rally around these activities aimed at
rising student achievement.
CHERI P
YECKE, PH.D.
CHANCELLOR, K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
Guinness Read Aloud
March 29, 2006
Page Two
In addition to the three contests, a suggestion from one of your colleagues is an exciting opportunity
for Florida’s middle grades students and schools. We are exploring the possibility of breaking a
current Guinness World Record,
Most People Reading Aloud Simultaneously at Multiple Locations
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The purpose of this memo is to determine the interest level of Florida’s middle schools in completing
this task and breaking the world record. The current record is held by 155,528 pupils in the United
Kingdom, but with a concentrated effort, Florida’s almost 628,000 middle school students will easily
surpass this.
The event will tentatively take place in September 2006, and will require approximately one hour of
the school day. After a statewide broadcast including a documentary on the project and discussion
with the author, all Florida middle grades students will read aloud a 3-4 minute excerpt of text, to be
determined by Just Read, Florida!
Participation in this event will require several technical and manpower commitments on the part of the
school. We encourage you to involve your PTA for these services. Please complete the attached form
and return it to my office by April 30, 2006. Contact information is on the form.
We look forward to working with your school as we seek to break this record.
cc: District Superintendents
Guinness Book of World Records Read Aloud
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Interest Form
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PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM BY APRIL 30, 2006
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School Name:
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Address:
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Phone Number:
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District:
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Principal’s Name:
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Identify a staff member to be the contact person for this event. (We highly recommend the media
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specialist.)
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Name:
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Title:
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Phone Number:
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Approximate number of students in September 2006:
Will you be able to provide:
YES NO
TV Access
with the Florida Knowledge Network or the Florida Channel
OR
Internet Access to view a webcast
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One per classroom*
Videographer
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One per classroom*
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Video footage of the record attempt must be submitted on VHS (PAL or
NTSC), DVD, or CD-ROM video. Where possible, the original footage
should also be supplied on DV or Mini DV.
Photographer
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One per classroom*
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High quality color photographs must be submitted in digital format on
CD-ROM (taken at 300dpi in a 15cm x 15 cm size), or in traditional
photographic print or slide format. Printouts of digital images are only
acceptable if the photographs are also provided in digital format.
Timekeeper
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One per classroom*
Notary Public
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One per school
Witnesses
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Two per school
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They must be community leaders who will sign sworn statements. We
encourage you to use your School Resource Officer as one witness.
Otherwise, witnesses cannot by employed by the school.
*
If students are brought to a central location (cafeteria, auditorium, gym, etc.), this is considered
their classroom. Doing this will lessen the number of personnel needed.
If you are unable to provide the above-mentioned specifications, but you are still interested in
participating, in what areas would you need assistance to make this event possible at your school?
Please return the form to Holly Radcliffe, Executive Director, Administration and Special Projects,
Division of K-12 Public Schools, via one of the following methods. She can be reached at (850) 245-
5030 if you have questions regarding this event.
By Mail:
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325 West Gaines Street
Suite 514
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
By Fax:
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(850) 245-5036
By E-mail:
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Holly.Radcliffe@fldoe.org